Death of Pioneer of American Meat Shipments at Summerhill

The Aberdeen Weekly Journal 5 March 1881

The death is announced at Summerhill, Shandon, after a brief illness of Mr John Bell. Although not a public man, in the ordinary sense of the word, Mr Bell was well known in commercial circles as the senior member of the firm of John Bell and Sons, fleshers, 170 Arygle Street.

His name came prominently before the public in connection with large shipments of dead meat and cattle from America to this country – a species of trade which his firm introduced and developed to an enormous extent both in England and Scotland.

Also printed in the Glasgow Citizen.

Sale by Public Roup of Lagbuie House and Oakbank Cottage

Greenock Advertiser, 19 August 1880

To be sold by public roup within the Faculty Hall, St George’s Place, Glasgow on Wednesday the 25th day of August 1880 at two o’clock afternoon (unless previously disposed of by private bargain).

Lagbuie House and grounds and Oakbank Cottage, Shandon. Lagbuie is a two-storey villa containing three public-rooms, eight bedrooms and two bathrooms with laundry and kitchen accommodation. The offices comprise coachman’s house, gardener’s house, three stalled stable, hay loft, coach-house and accessories. Feu duty £22 11s 3d.

Oakbank comprises dining room, drawing-room, five bedrooms and the usual kitchen accommodation; gas and water; small stable and coach house. Feu duty £2 16s.

The grounds comprising one compact property are tastefully laid out and extend to over six acres.

Upset price £4000.

Apply to Turnbull & Parnie, house factors, 27 Union Street or to Bannatynes Kirkwood and M’Jannet, writers, 145 West George Street, Glasgow.

Shandon War Memorial

Private Peter Anderson, Scottish Rifles

Captain James Walker Downie, Royal Army Medical Corps. Died 28th October 1918 aged 25. Son of James and Elsie Downie of 4 Woodside Crescent, Glasgow. Buried at Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.

Private A Elrick, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Private A MacKenzie, Seaforth Highlanders.

Lieutenant Iain MacLellan Miller, 2nd Batalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Died 25th September 1915 aged 20. Son of Reverend Hugh and Annie Miller of The Manse, Shandon. Buried at Cambrin Churchyard Extension, Pas de Calais, France.

Lieutenant Walter Douglas Miller, 15th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and 120th Clyde Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 2nd October 1916 aged 24. Son of Reverend Hugh and Annie Miller of The Manse, Shandon. Commemorated at Arras Flying Services Memorial (no known grave).

Private George Mills, Gordon Highlanders.

If you have any further information on these men, please contact me.

The Shandon Collection

Edinburgh Evening News 16 May 1877

Yesterday was the second day’s sale of the second portion of this great collection and the choice value of some of the articles drew a great number of art connoisseurs and other s to the rooms of Messrs Christie & Manson in King Street, St James.

Amongst a number of miscellaneous collections a tortoise-shell cup cover and saucer was prominent and fetched £16 10s; a gold watch by Tavania of Paris with two dials £32 2s; a watch by Fevner of Paris in a gold enamelled case £50; an oval gold snuff box by Nember with striated agates the lid inlaid with a brown enamel representing a bust of Plato £82; a ramshorn table snuff box formerly belonging to Rob Roy MacGregor and in possession of the late Duke of Gordon’s factor £2 5s. The total sum realised for the day’s sale of 163 lots was £2024 9s.