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Local characters
Heather Jock – Dog Breeder
Wild
and Woolly character, called John Ferguson, lived in the grounds of Old Newton.
Infamous for his poaching, stealing, breeding of dogs and drinking. He always looked
dishevelled. Later deported to
Dan Kennedy – Poet, Slater
Daniel
had a large red nose, a square grey beard, twinkling eyes and dressed all in black.
Best remembered as a poet, he lived at Glengarry cottage, 68 main street. A Slater
by trade. Doune is famous for its slaters.
Duncan Dow – Gamekeeper
Lived
in keepers Cottage at
Dr McGill – Stage Doctor
Nicknamed
Merry Andrew. Best known as a Stage Doctor who was always present at Markets and
Fairs selling miraculous cures and ointments by making humorous speeches and walking
high tightropes. His horse Black Bess drove his travelling cart into the river Teith
one day.
Nanny Kane – Church Beadle
Nicknamed
Bell Nanny because she rang the church bell the same way for all occasions.
Local surnames:
Distinguished
Duke of
Builder of
Earls of Moray – Lords of
Doune
The largest
landowner in Kilmadock. Erected the Mercat Cross in 1611. The family has
royal connections and have been very kind to the area. The Morays paid for a proper
water supply from the Doune braes in 1899
and have donated land for the rural hall, the
Sir James Graham –
Son of
the Earl of Mentieth. Built the castle in 1460. Famous for his bravery in battle.
Castle is famous for its ghost of Lady Anne Chisholm of Cromlix.
John Napier – Inventor of Logarithms
Provost
of Edinburgh, Inventor of Logarithms, born in
Walter Comyn – Inchmahome Priory
Walter
Comyn, the Earl of Menteith built Inchmahome Priory on the
Religious
Walter Drummond -Dean of Dunblane
was knighted
by King James the Second, and died in 1455. First
Owner of land known as Deanston
Mrs Campbell – St Fillians Chapel
Wife
of Sir James Thompson who was chairman of the Caledonian Railway. Mrs Campbell was
instrumental in building the local Roman Catholic Chapel, St Fillians in 1875.
There
were 6 churches in kilmadock parish.
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Agricultural
Earl of Monteith – Lanrick estate
Lord Kames –Blairdrummond
He Died
in 1867.
Sir Arthur Muir –Blairdrummond
Owned
the Blairdrummond estate. Famous for gifting the Muir hall and the Deanston
green clock
in memory
of his mother, Lady Muir.
Robin Oig – Master Drover
One of
the five sons of “Rob Roy” Macgegor. Robin Oig Mcombich
was a highland master cattle drover. He served in the 42nd regiment at the battle of Fontenoy, but was captured,
then exchanged and later released back to
Local agricultural estates
Gartincaber,
IndustrialMain Pistolmakers Thomas Caddell 1646 Thomas Caddell the
blacksmith came form nearby Muthill and set up a new business of
Pistol making. He soon became a genius and turned out pistols
unrivalled in their workmanship and accuracy. Some at that time
costing a year’s wages. Thomas &
John Murdoch Thomas was born in 1735
and made over 81 pistols. A pair of his pistols were presented to
George Washington in 1779. His brother John was the last pistolmaker
in Doune and moved his trade to other local
pistolmakers were : Christie, McKenzie, McNeill, Mitchie,
Stewart and Sutherland. Sir James Thompson –
RailwayEntered
the railways as a lad in 1848 and ended up being General Manager of
the Caledonian Railway.
The
Dunblane-Doune-Callander line was opened in 1858. He
lived at Inverardoch mains. Died
1906. Robert Spittal – Royal Tailor
Tailor
to Queen Margaret, wife of King James 4th. Famous for
building the bridge over the river Teith after being refused
crossing the river by the ferryman, as he could not pay. He also
built other bridges and a hospital in James Smith – Deanston
MillJohn Buchanan bought 6 acres of land for a lint mill beside the River Teith in 1771. Archibald Buchanan, John’s brother, became the manager and they called the mill, the Adelphi. They were unsuccessful in making the mill profitable and later sold the mill to James Finlay and Company. When Kirkman Finlay, James’s eldest son, took over the family business he saw the potential in producing their own cotton goods to export. The Buchanan’s bankruptcy in 1794 allowed Kirkman to buy Deanston Mill in 1806. James Smith was first manager of Deanston Cotton Mill, owned by James Finlay and Co. He extended and greatly improved the mill by efficiency and ingenuity. He also invented agricultural deep ploughing and had the brilliant idea of diverting water from loch Katrine for Sir
John Muir - Deanston Mill Sir
John Muir bought his way into the company who owned Deanston Cotton
Mill, James Finlay and Co, and after the death of John Finlay in
1873. Muir moved into Deanston House and became actively involved in
community life, becoming an Elder in the Sweetie |
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