Grandholm Cottage near Woodside Aberdeen

Kari G · Post by **Kari G** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:08 am

Hello, I'm new to the Talking Scot. I am searching for my grandfather’s home which is called Grandholm Cottage and was located near Woodside in Aberdeen. I have a painting of the house, a letter from my grandfather dated 1892 under Grandholm Cottage letterhead and my grandfather’s birth certificate, indicating he was born in that home, near Woodside in Old Machar in 1880. My grandfather was Alexander Duguid Porter and his father was William Porter, his mother was Mary Duguid. His father was a cashier at a woollen manufactory according to the birthcertificate. I am assuming it is the Crombie Mills at Grandholm. I can see on the web that site has been developed. I am visiting Aberdeen in August and hoping to locate the house, if it still stands I will be posting a photo of the home and have scans of the birth certificate and letter if these would be helfpul. Looking forward to any help you may be able to provide. Thanks very much.

Kari G

Post by **Anne H** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:34 am

Hi Kari G,

How wonderful you will have the opportunity to visit the area where your grandfather lived. I don't know anything about Aberdeen but I'm sure someone with knowledge will come along soon.

In the meantime, welcome to TalkingScot.

and enjoy your visit when the time comes!

Regards,
Anne H

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:48 am

Hello Kari G,

You’ll find a number of references to Grandholm Cottage in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal available down this road http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11449
In particular Thursday, February 28, 1895 under heading “New Justices for Aberdeenshire” lists “William Porter, Grandholm Cottage, Persleyden, Oldmachar."

There’s also a birth notice for a child born 1885 and probably lots of other interesting stuff.

Here’s an 1852 Tourist Guide to the area
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=_KQ ... AJ&pg=PA17

And here’s a modern day tourist taking a stroll
http://www.nepforums.co.uk/thisisnorths ... ype=thread

I can’t see the cottage though. Hopefully someone will come up with an old map.
Google Earth has very nice images of this area.

Alan

Post by **AndrewP** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:16 am

Hi Kari,

Go to http://www.nls.uk/maps/early/os_scotlan ... _list.html

Then select Sheet 77 - Aberdeen.

On that map. Old Machar parish is coloured yellow, about midway up. Click on the bottom-left quarter of that parish to zoom in on it. By the southern parish boundary you can see Grandholm Works. A short distance north-westish (by the OLD of parish name OLD MACHAR) you will see Grandholm House, Mains of Grandholm and Grandholm Moss. A short distance south of Grandholm House is Upper Persley - presumably close to Persleyden as found by Alan.

All the best,

AndrewP

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:23 am

Hi Kari,
Just adding to the previous good advice.
There is mention of Grandholm Cottage on the National Library of Scotland maps.
--
http://www.nls.uk/maps/early/counties.html

Select Aberdeenshire.
Select 1858 Alexander Gibb Map.
Select Bottom section.
--
Left click to zoom into an area NW of Aberdeen on the River Don.
Grandholm Cottage is north (and across river) of Woodside Railway Station.
The 1881 census mentions the Cottage, but also numbered Grandholm Cottages separately.
Perhaps these were built near to the original cottage?
--
Whether it still stands i couldn't say; seems doubtful though...
...there's a fair bit of new housing in the area where the cottage stood.
See this modern day Streetmap to compare - http://tinyurl.com/439w5n
--
Jack

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:14 am

Kari

Go to http://www.old-maps.co.uk

Enter coordinates 392200 and 809700 this will take you to the right area. You can see maps from 1868 and 1928 both showing where Grandholm Cottage was.

This area was turned from farms into a huge housing estate, known as Danestone, which ajoins Bridge of Don. Building began around the late 1970s and has continued almost to the present time. More recently there has been new housing built in the grounds of the old mill, with some old mill buildings also converted to housing.

Look on http://www.multimaps.co.uk

Search for Laurel Place, Aberdeen

This takes you to the area as it now is. There are still a few old cottages scattered about within the area, one being just by the junction of Laurel Place and Laurel Avenue, but I can't remember what that one is called. I lived in Aberdeen most of my life and for a while (1991-2002) lived in Bridge of Don, driving through Danestone to get to Tesco every week. If that cottage is not Grandholm Cottage itself then it's most likely not there anymore, however the area where it stood would be between Laurel Place & Laurel Braes.

There are still some nice areas for walks there along the river and beside the old mill - the new houses haven't quite taken over completely - and you can still get the character of the place as it would have been in days gone by. Hope this helps you find what you are looking for.

Susan.

JanetB · Post by **JanetB** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:33 pm

Hi Kari G

My Great grandfather James Porter left some (rather illegible) notes on the Porter family history in Aberdeenshire. He started with the unlikely tale of three brothers coming to Aberdeenshire around 1700 to farm sheep. His ancestor settled in the parish of Forgue, another on the Fyvie/Rayne border and the third in Buchan, allegedly. He goes on to state ' the Porter now cashier at Grandholm works is a descendent of the Buchan lot'. I guess this is William your great grandfather. I haven't managed to substantiate much of this story but just wonder if you have any clues going further back.

Janet

Kari G · Post by **Kari G** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:49 am

This is amazing! I cannot thank you all enough. I've been working all day and just had a chance to check to see if there was a reply and I find a treasure trove. Thank you so much! I shall look forward to exploring all your attachments and advice.

Janet, I don't have any other information going further back than my great grandfather, so your information is wonderful.

My grandfather Alex came to Canada in 1907. He had an older brother I believe named John William Porter who also came to Canada in 1902. I don't know his date of birth or if there was another child born in 1885. They both worked in the rail industry and moved to Winnipeg but my grandfather married and moved to Toronto where he had his own Engineering business. I have reference letters for my grandfather from Gordon's College (which I want to see) and the Great North of Scotland Railway and the Vulcan Foundry in Lacashire which he obtained in preparation for going to Canada.

I am very excited to be coming over to Aberdeen and also to read all the stories and information you have on this site. It is a whole new world! I have recently discovered that on my Dad's side (my maiden name is Outram) we have ancestors from the Orkney Islands - Corrigals and Scollies. I will try to follow directions and get all that added to my signature. Thanks again!

Kari G · Post by **Kari G** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:21 am

Hi Alan,

I was able to get registered in the Gale Digital Collections but haven't had much luck from there. Can you give me some more clues on how to access the journal and article please? Thank you for the other information. I had found some of it on the web and I'd love to figure out how to search the Gale.

Kari G · Post by **Kari G** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:16 am

Hi Susan,

I do hope I can find a cottage, if not the cottage. I am planning to stay at the Larches hotel on Queen street. Do you think I can walk across the bridge I see on the map? Is it easy to cross the A96 as a pedestrian? If not, do you know of another place to stay that is easier access for walking? Thanks again for all your help.

TalkingScot.com

Grandholm Cottage near Woodside Aberdeen

Grandholm Cottage near Woodside Aberdeen

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Grandhold Cottage near Woodside Aberdeen

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