Dunnottar House

[Willsg]

Hello all,
While researching the history of a rare sporting rifle made by J Rigby & co,London in 1904, i came across an entry in their ledgers that it was supplied to a Mr H.O Ritchie esq, Dunnottar House, Stonehaven on the 19th August 1904.
I was wondering if he was one of William Ritchie's sons and if anyone may have any further information about the family?
I enclose a photograph of the entry in the Rigby ledger (hopefully!, not very good at this!)
Many thanks & kind regards

William

[ev]

There is a Henry Oliphant Ritchie born 1867 Dunnottar.


ev

[Willsg]

Thank you so so much ev! That is really great to hear, I really look forward to moving ahead with my investigations now. Fabulous to finally have a name!
Very many thanks again!

Willsg

[coplani]

Scotlands People is a great source....
But you will have to buy some credits...About £5 will do...On line or from a Scottish library.
Look for Census returns....Tick the 1901 and 1911 boxes (or earlier if you want) and then put in Rirchie as surname and Kincardine County and then Dunnottar district...The search will reveal all the Ritchies who lived in the Parish of Dunnottar at those dates...Not many... 9 results.
View the census records and they will reveal all....

Ian

[Willsg]

Brilliant! Thanks due again Ian. Excuse my ignorance, I've not done this sort of research before and your kind advice is very much appreciated.
Yours sincerely

William

[*Sandra*]

England, Oxford Men and Their Colleges, 1880-1892 - Oxford Men and Their Colleges, 1880-1892, 2 Volumes.

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

1881 census Dunnottar House Dunnottar Rd Kincardineshire.

ED 3 Page 5 Line 13

William Ritchie   64  Distiller (Employing 15 Men And 5 Women Serv)
Margaret Ritchie   49  Distillers Wife
William H Ritchie 19 Margaret H Ritchie 18
David Ritchie   17 Charles E Ritchie 15
Harry O Ritchie   13 Frederick Ritchie   11
Jessie Hamilton   38 sister-in-law
Mary A Beattie   29 cook domestic
Agnes Leith   30 table Maid Domestic Serv
Anne Cowie   30 laundress Domestic Serv
Anne Stephen   23 housemaid Domestic Serv

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

1901 census Dunnottar House Kincardineshire.

ED 3 Page 1 Line 19

William Ritchie   84 Distiller.
William H Ritchie 35 Distiller.
Harry O Ritchie   33 Distiller.
Frederick Ritchie 31 Advocate.
Jessie Hamilton   57
Ann Jack   52
Elizabeth Strachen 30
Margaret Mc Etdie 30
Maria Machie   23
Christian Strachan   22
Hector Smith   24

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

In his book "Highways and Byways Round Stonehaven" Archibald Watt mentions that ....."Dunnottar House, a large and somewhat bald looking classical building, built in 1786 and demolished in 1957 or 1958.  It was originally the elegant home of a branch of the Kennedy family, a famous Scottish family the head of which was the Marquis of Ailsa, and latterly was lived in by Captain W.H. Ritchie who owned Glenury Distillery.  Now only some huge slabs of granite by the roadside mutely testify to the presence in the past of a building opposite".

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=327768.0

1806 - Dunottar House was built
1814 - Lord William Kennedy married Eleanor Allardice and took up residence
1835 - House changed hands, to General Nathaniel Forbes
1851 - House passed on to his son, Charles William Mackay Forbes
1901 - Property sold to William Ritchie
After William Ritchie's death, the house was let to several tenants until it eventually was reduced to rubble. "Dunottar House had a beautiful walled garden which was well known for its magnificent flowers and vegetables and for the gardeners who produced them, Messrs. McHardy and Mitchell"


Sandra