On Wednesday morning, about six o’clock, the inmates of the mansion-house of Walter Buchanan, Esquire of Shandon, were roused by fire breaking out in the upper part of the building, which, with the exception of the two wings, was in a very short time entirely burnt to the ground.
The people in the neighbourhood assembled in great numbers to render their assistance, and, ably directed by Mr Robert Napier, they succeeded in saving a part of the furniture and effects. It is presumed the fire had arisen from the ignition of a beam of timber in connection with one of the vents. It is understood that the property is insured.
Shandon Church, Gareloch
ABERDEEN PRESS AND JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST 1945
The fire which has blazed three days on the British steamer Wairuna in the Gareloch, near Shandon, is now extinguished, reports Lloyd’s.
SCOTTISH GUARDIAN (GLASGOW), FRIDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 1856
TO LET, FURNISHED, FOR THE SEASON;
LINNBURN, SHANDON
The house consists of three public rooms and five bed rooms etc. There are coach house, stable, and a good garden. The grounds are extensive, and embrace about a mile of walks. Rent moderate.
Apply to James McCall & Son, 156 Buchanan Street.
Shandon pier, Shandon Hydro and the head of the Gareloch
THE SCOTSMAN, MONDAY 26TH JUNE 1950
SHANDON, GARELOCH
To be exposed by public roup (if not previously disposed of by private bargain), within the Faculty Hall, St George’s Place, Glasgow, on Twenty-eight June, Nineteen Hundred and Fify, at 2pm, the lodge at entrance gate to Bashley, Shandon, on Helensburgh – Garelochhead Road, containing, ground floor: small entrance hall, livingroom, bedroom, kitchenette, and W.C.; upper floor: three bedrooms. Mains water and gas. Feu-duty, £10. Immediate entry. Upset price. £900.
For further particulars apply to MacNeur & Bryden Ltd, property agents, 13 West Princes Street, Helensburgh (Telephone 873), or Ormond & Stanton, Solicitors, Helensburgh, who hold the Title Deeds and Articles of Roup.
Following an article under our ’25 Years Ago’ column, the ‘Times’ received a letter from a Mr Daniel Fraser, formerly of Motherwell and now residing in Shandon, near Helensburgh.
Mr Fraser had been featured in the article as being one of the first Japanese POWs to manage to have a postcard sent home telling about the state of his health and the location of the camp where he is being held.
He happened to read the ‘Motherwell Times’ that week and was surprised and delighted to see his own name mentioned.
Then he decided to write to us, enclosing some press cuttings from the war-time American ‘Stars and Stripes’ forces newspaper.
Gareloch from above Shandon
These cuttings tell of his further experiences while a captive in Korea, when he commandeered a fishing boat while on an unauthorised foraging expedition outside his camp to rescue the crew of an American bomber shot down into the sea.
After the war, Mr Fraser was honoured for his heroism by the US Air Force, who awarded him a bound letter of commendation. The USAF embassy attache in London, Brigadier General Grover C Brown and his staff, in fact made a special trip to conduct the presentation at Prestwick Air Base.
Mr Fraser is now an instructor at St Andrew’s Approved School, Shandon and despite his past experiences, is in the best of health.
OBAN TIMES AND ARGYLLSHIRE ADVERTISER, SATURDAY 24TH JANUARY 1959
B.R. MAN RETIRES AFTER 58 YEARS: MR JOHN MACDOUGALL, BRIDGE OF ORCHY
Mr John Swan MacDougall, Beinn Dorain, Bridge of Orchy, has retired after 58 years’ service with the North British, L.N.E.R., and finally British Railways. Mr Macdougall was employed on the Craigendoran-Fort William section all during his railway career.
A native of Lochaweside, Mr Macdougall spent most of his life in Bridge of Orchy where as a young man he served as a postman before joining the traffic department of the North British Railway. He was then employed as a porter at Shandon, in the Gareloch, but later returned to Bridge of Orchy to join the engineers’ department. He has served for the past 57 years on the permanent way.
Shandon Train Station
In his youth and early manhood he contributed to the social life of the community by encouraging entertainment of all descriptions and was for a considerable time the master of ceremonies at the many dances held in the schoolroom. He was, in fact, responsible for the ‘railway dance’ which was an annual event for many years and which, on his retiral from the duties of M.C., went into abeyance. Possessed of a quick, witty and pawky sense of humour, he has been a general favourite with all his colleagues and fellow railwaymen.
Despite his advanced years Mr Macdougall is very alert and continued with his daily task until he retired.
An elder of the Strathfillan Church of Scotland and church officer of the church at Bridge of Orchy, Mr Macdougall is to receive suitable recognition for his unfailing services, both as a railwayman and as a churchman. Already he has the British Railways gold watch for 45 years’ service.
Hearty congratulations to Mr and Mrs Peter Machray, 1 Main Street, Coalsnaughton, Tillicoultry, who celebrate their golden wedding today.
The couple, who are both Forfarians, were married on 7th December 1900 by the Rev G J Caie, and all their married life has been spent furth the toonie – partly in Fifeshire and partly at Shandon on the Gareloch. For the long period of 35 years Mr Machray was gardener and caretaker at the Agnes Wilson Home for Glasgow children, retiring from that post in 1944.
Mt and Mrs Machray, who are both hale and hearty, are regular readers of the Dispatch and enjoy an occasional visit to relatives in Forfar. The fruit garden of his home occupies much of Mr Machray’s time.
Gareloch at Shandon
FIFE FREE PRESS, SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 1961
RETIRAL
Miss C D Binnie was presented with an 8-day multi-chime clock on the occasion of her retiral last week after almost 22 years’ service as head receptionist at the Station Hotel, Kirkcaldy.
The presentation was made by Mr Roy A Brown, manager.
A native of Coatbridge, Miss Binnie returned to Scotland in 1936 after a spell in London where she was employed by the British Rope Company.
Before taking up her appointment in Kirkcaldy in 1939, she served in the Shandon Hydro, the Trossachs Hotel, and the Station Hotel, Stirling.
This is the start of a short series on Shandon properties that appeared in the well-known Country Life magazine – a lovely way to see photos of some of the Shandon properties that I blog about regularly.
Walker, Fraser & Steele, 74 Bath Street, Glasgow, tel Glasgow Douglas 6761, and 58 Castle Street, Edinburgh, tel Edinburgh 31541.
For sale by private treaty, Croy, Shandon, Dunbartonshire, a most attractive residence, commanding delightful views over the waters of the Gareloch.
The subjects comprise approximately, entrance and ante halls, 3 reception rooms, billiards room, 8 principal bedrooms, dressing room, 3 bathrooms, maids’ accommodation and maids’ bathroom, cloakroom, kitchen and full domestic offices.
Main electric light and power. Central heating.
Beautifully proportioned apartments, 2 cottages, 3 car garage and various outhouses.
Ground extends to about 16 acres, including fields, flower and vegetable gardens etc. Assessed rent £193 10s. Feu duty £78 14s. Early possession. Seen only by prior arrangement with the agents. For full particulars, apply: Walker, Fraser & Steele.
The subject of today’s blog post may be controversial in some ways compared to some of the blog post subjects I choose but St Andrew’s ‘School was equally a part of Shandon thus my decision to include it.
A young sailor received such a serious injury when struck with a webbed belt outside a dance hall in Helensburgh (Dunbartonshire) that his right eye had to be removed, said Mr E G Smith, prosecuting, in Glasgow Sheriff Court today.
Patrick O’Kane (22), labourer, pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Chester Clark, of the Royal Navy, stationed in H.M.S. Exmouth at Faslane Port, Shandon, by striking him on the head and face with a belt to his severe injury. He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.
Kirk Brae, Shandon
SWUNG BELT ROUND HEAD
Mr Smith said that when two girls came out of a telephone kiosk outside the dance hall, O’Kane removed a webbed belt from his body and swung it round his head, striking Clark on the forehead with it. Clark turned round and said ‘Watch it, Jock. I’m not fighting’.
O’Kane then swung the belt again, striking Clark on the right eye.
In court, O’Kane told Sheriff Hamilton: ‘It all started in the dance hall when two sailors asked me outside for a square go. Somebody threw a bottle and that started it. I am very sorry this has happened’.
For sale, by private bargain, or to let, furnished, this beautiful residential property, situated upon the Gareloch, about ten minutes’ walk from Shandon railway station, the same distance from Shandon pier, and 25 miles from Glasgow.
The lands extend to 42 acres, and stretch fully a quarter of a mile along the shore of the Gareloch.
Feu duty £85 5s 1d. Entry taxed. All as formerly advertised.
For further information and orders to view the property, apply to Bannatyne Kirkwood France & Co, writers, 145 West George Street, Glasgow or to Walker Fraser & Steele, property agents, 74 Bath Street, Glasgow.
Shandon Church, Gareloch
DUMBARTONSHIRE – PROPERTY FOR SALE BY PRIVATE BARGAIN
Shandon – Broomfield – that beautifully situated residence on the Gareloch, in excellent order, containing drawing room, dining room, library, smoking room, six bedrooms, dressing room, three servants’ rooms, two box rooms, kitchen etc, with laundry, dairy, washing house, stables for three horses, byre etc; coachman’s house, gardener’s house, and lodge at gate. Plentiful supply hot and cold water; gas throughout. Extent of ground, 6 3/4 acres in gardens, lawns, shrubberies, etc. Feu duty £50 15s 9d.
For cards of admission and further particulars apply to McLure, Naismith, Brodie & Co, 77 St Vincent Street, Glasgow and Alexander Dowell, 18 George Street, Edinburgh.
Tomorrow (Friday) evening Mr James Caldwell, one of the Members for the city of Glasgow, will inaugurate the lecture session in the schoolroom here. The hon. gentleman, who has travelled much abroad, and has given a keen penetration to the social and political aspects of the peoples of other countries, has chosen for his subject – ‘Things which I saw in Russia and Turkey’. Such a subject cannot fail to be of value, and no doubt it will draw together a large audience.
Shandon Church
HELENSBURGH NEWS, THURSDAY 23RD DECEMBER 1886
SHANDON. MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
On Friday last a most instructive and able paper was read by Mr Neaves at the usual meeting of the above association. The subject was ‘The Post Office’ and the speaker treated it in a very able way, which was a source of interest and enjoyment to the large audience present.
Shandon People and History 