Hi everyone!
Hope I'm not flogging a dead horse here, please forgive me, but even after all this time, I haven't been able to let this go!
I found this today: http://www.rootschat.com/links/08kw/ and it's raised more questions for me than answers. It clearly says that this Dunnottar House should not be confused with the one demolished in 1959 
Presuming the last paragraph in that link pertains to the manse house, then perhaps the wedding of my great great grandparents at 'Dunnottar House' wasn't as grand as I first thought!! The last paragraph pertains to the land of Dunnottar House, including the farming land - this includes Upper Criggie and East Carmount, which is precisely where both sides of the family ancestors are to be found on the census, farming up to 121 acres.
To be precise, the wedding was that of William Duthie and Mary Turriff (my great great grandparents) in 1855. The marriage cert states they were married at the 'House of Dunnottar'. At the time of their marriage, Mary's father Alexander Turriff was a Farmer of 121 acres at Upper Criggie. At the time of the marriage, William was recorded as a Farm Servant at Criggie. The 1861 census has them at Criggie, and William as a Ploughman. In 1871 they have popped away to Fetteresso where William is an Ag Lab. They then return to East Carmount where William is recorded in the 1881 census as Farmer of 110 acres. Upon his death 10 years later, his personal estate was £524. I presume this would have been a lot of pennies in them days??
The reason that has reared it's head again is because I finally laid hands on a photo of my great grandparents, and in conversation with family it was brought up that great granny had been brought up 'well heeled' rather than as just a country farmer's daughter. Of course this made me hark back to the wedding of her parents and gave me pause for thought that they were relatively well-to-do!
Lass x
Hello Lass
I don't know if this is your William Duthie or a relative, or not?
Stonehaven Journal, 15th December 1859The Stonehaven Literary Society met for their AGM at the Dunnottar School-room and several of those present were James Scott, Esq., writer; Messrs Robert Duthie; and later in the same list a William Duthie.
What is interesting is the following:-
Stonehaven Journal, 24th June 1858 GRASS TO LET.
THE GRASS on the Lawn and in the Plantations
around the House of Dunnottar, is to be Let, for
Sheep pasture, for the season. Apply to James Scott,
Writer, Stonehaven.
21st June, 1858:Apparently the House of Dunnottar with shooting over 4,000 acres had been offered for Let
Edinburgh Evening Courant, 14th May 1857 TO BE LET.
With Entry immediately.
THE MANSION HOUSE of DUNNOTTAR,
County of Kincardine, and SHOOTING over
the Estate, will be Let on Lease, for such term of
years as may be agreed upon. The House, which is
partially furnished, is very commodious, and the
Grounds are beautiful. There is a Coach-house and
Stables, and every Convenience suitable for a Family. ...
What I don't know is whether James Scott was already there in May 1857 and this was him trying to sublet the property, or if James Scott Esq., Writer, rented from this date, or had some other connection with the owner.
Register of SasinesThe Register of Sasines [property register], we used this Register along with the County Council Meeting Minutes, Valuation Books, for another property called Kenmure Castle, Kells, South-west Scotland, to study its demise from a great Castle House overlooking Loch Ken, to a ruined shell and see who was responsible.
The local authority were given an assurance that the new owner a scrap metal dealer (mid 20th Century) wouldn't demolish Kenmure Castle, but no preservation notice was served on the new owner, nor via the selling Estate Agent. The next reports were, that workmen had begun stripping lead on the roof, the Authorities let the lead stripping carry on, rather than try and issue a Preservation Notice to save the roof and building, for fear that they may become financially responsible for making good the damaged part of the roof.
Water got in the roof and through the floors and huge timbers finally rotted through and some old timber remains still lie on the ground floor, about 10 years ago.
Mark
