Aberdeenshire history question

[Kiltie]

I'm hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction with this.

When I drive out the Alford road (A944) and I pass the Loch of Skene / Dunecht Estate, I'm reminded of a story my mother told me donkey's years ago.

There's a dry(?) granite wall which runs between the estate and the road for a considerable distance and I think it maybe goes all the way round the estate (I can certainly see it when I take the road to Echt). Lots of conker trees on the estate side of the wall.

Anyway, my mum told me that this wall was essentially job creation during the 1930s depression. She said the Laird (I'm guessing that would have been the 2nd Viscount Cowdray) had the wall built to give local men a job and keep food on their tables.

Does anyone know anything about this? - Google is failing me.

I'm writing something about the current desperate situation with the O&G business and I want to suggest that it's in the interests of the operator community to keep the supply chain ticking over (otherwise, when things pick up, there'll be nobody around to serve and supply them).

I'd hoped to use this Dunecht wall as an example of "responsible philanthropy" but I can't see any obvious references.

Edited by Kiltie on Monday 9th November 12:26

[Gramrugby]

I've heard the same story. Would it have anything in common with the Consumption Dykes ?. Dunecht Estate has as far as I'm aware also have a drystane dyker on the payroll.
Given the frequency with which the dykes get hit there it would make sense, presuming that the insurance co's will ultimately cover the cost. I know a few people who have
worked for Cowdray Estates many years ago, I'll see if I can find out more.

[Kiltie]

Gramrugby said:

I've heard the same story.

This is reassuring. I was beginning to wonder if my mum had made it up or I'd got it mixed up over the year.

Gramrugby said:

I know a few people who have worked for Cowdray Estates many years ago, I'll see if I can find out more.

Cheers man.

[eck c]

That dyke still keeps folks busy with the amount of cars going through it.

[Corpulent Tosser]

I mentioned this to a couple of colleagues last night and one of them who lives in Moray said there was a drainage ditch built at Cullen during the depression to keep local men in work.

[Gramrugby]

Eric, I've sent you a personal email

[Kiltie]

Gramrugby said:

Eric, I've sent you a personal email

Sorry, I didn't see anything come through.

I wrote a wee bit on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/decommissioning-tim...

[Trek930]

I thought the folly above Oban was for the same reason but Google is telling me it was to keep local stonemasons busy during the winter....sort of the same cause!

[NEEP]

Kiltie
You are maybe aware of this but I think it was A-FAB earlier this year, in a similar bid to keep their workforce busy/employed came up with idea to design & build a Houseboat/Barge, totally on spec (as in it wasn't for a customer), the plan is/was to sell it for mooring on the Thames once finished.
The company that the Taylor Bros (Barry & Peter) work for did the blasting & painting of it, Last I heard it was completed and they were seeking a buyer.

[Peanut Gallery]

Good timing on the thread resurrection!

Kiltie, are you aware that the City and Shire archives are open to the public on the 10th of September - part of the Doors Open Days stuff?

I am starting to be intrigued by how many roads are built along rivers through Aberdeen.

[Kiltie]

NEEP said:

Kiltie
You are maybe aware of this but I think it was A-FAB earlier this year, in a similar bid to keep their workforce busy/employed came up with idea to design & build a Houseboat/Barge, totally on spec (as in it wasn't for a customer), the plan is/was to sell it for mooring on the Thames once finished.
The company that the Taylor Bros (Barry & Peter) work for did the blasting & painting of it, Last I heard it was completed and they were seeking a buyer.

I did hear about that but I didn't make the connection.

I also saw something about it on FB - maybe it was Barry that posted it.

Thanks very much for posting this. Good story.

[Kiltie]

Peanut Gallery said:

Good timing on the thread resurrection!

Kiltie, are you aware that the City and Shire archives are open to the public on the 10th of September - part of the Doors Open Days stuff?

I am starting to be intrigued by how many roads are built along rivers through Aberdeen.

Thanks for that.

[Peanut Gallery]

Kiltie!

Thread resurrection, even though this is not in Aberdeenshire, but Easter Ross. You mentioned that the wall built around the Loch of Skene (on the level, next to the road, nearby accommodation) was built as a job creation build in the 1930's. May I raise you this..


(I have more pics if you are interested)

This is a wall across the saddle of Suilven. I have included a full size human for reference as to how large the wall is, it continues down both sides of the hill a long way, where it is very steep - too steep to climb. I would not say there is much suitable rock there, so a lot was carried in. It took us 7 hours or so to walk in, get to 100m of the top, and walk out again, through heavy bog.

To add insult to our legs pain, the cloud that had been clear all the walk in cleared again when we were at the bottom of the hill.

I hear this is also a job creation wall, and there is another even more impressive wall over another munro somewhere else.

[craig2003]

Another similar story from Easter Ross was the monument on top of Fyrish hill between Evanton and Alness. Story was that the workers took the stones up the hill during the day for the build and the laird rolled them back down under the cover of darkness to keep them employed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyrish_Monument