2026 Oot an Aboot
Eliza Fraser Mausoleum 28 May
On Thursday 28 May 2026 a small group of CHG members drove to Cluny kirkyard to meet the conservation architect Dave Couman and the project manager, Frances Swanton of the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT). The NESPT became owners of the mausoleum in 2018 following a lengthy ownership and genealogy search, which concluded that there are no living descendants of Elyza Fraser alive today.
Elyza Fraser (1734-1814) was one of the 18th century Lairds of Fraser Castle. She inherited the castle in 1792 when she was 58 years old. The impressive Category A mausoleum was designed by Elyza Fraser’s good friend James Byres and she was instrumental in its design. She was buried there in 1814 along with her good friend Mary Bristow, who was buried before her in 1808. On the wall are plaques to other members of the Fraser family, but most of these are inscribed on sandstone which has weathered badly & been effected by leaking water. Elyza Fraser’s memorial plaque faces you as you enter the mausoleum & the gold writing is on granite, which has not weathered.
A comprehensive programme of repairs were proposed, starting on site September 2024, including re-pointing in lime mortar, repairs to the glazed oculus and domed roof, removal of vegetation, repairs to the doors, specialist repair and conservation of the memorials and the installation of interpretation. The work commenced in 2024 and was completed in January 2026.
The project cost £172,306 and the NESPT were awarded grants from the National Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and the Pilgrim Trust. Funding also included funding raised by the Friends of Miss Elyza Fraser mausoleum
If you missed this visit and would like to see the mausoleum it is open on Doors Open Day on 19 & 20 September 2026
Coull Kirk 25 June
A small but enthusiastic group of seven members assembled for the visit to Coull Kirk on the 25th of June. We were met by Les Ellis and Christa Markham of the Coull Trust. They explained that the Trust had taken over ownership of the church building at the beginning of the year and are now responsible for the upkeep of the Category B listed building. The present church was built in 1796, probably on the site of an earlier building. It incorporates the17th century gable end and birdcage belfry, which was restored in 1876. It was at that time a plain rectangular building with the entrance on the west side.
The interior of the building was refurbished in 1924 when the old box pews were replaced by the bench pews we see today. The interior of the church was turned round through 1800 with the old west entrance blocked up and a new entrance and porch added on the eastern side. The only illumination in the building is from the oil lamps mounted on brass pillars. The circular stained glass window in the western wall is a memorial to Gilbert MacKenzie, son of the architect Marshall MacKenzie, who was killed in action in 1916. The flanking windows from 1930 are dedicated to Rev. Alexander McKenzie who was the minister for 45 years. The stained glass window in the southern wall is dedicated to Hugh Neilson Lilburn who was killed in action in 1945.
The trust have commenced work on the conservation of the building by treating all the timbers for woodworm and replacing decayed timber in the roof. The roof tiles are next on the list and plans are in place to make the toilet in the vestry wheelchair accessible. The trust also plan to commission a ground penetrating radar survey to discover whether remains of the original church which might be buried under or around the present church. The building is open to visit on Tuesdays if you would like to see for yourself.
Our thanks go to our guides for the afternoon and we wish the Coull Trust every success in their plans for the future.
Old Aberdeen 29 July
Despite a weather forecast for rains showers a group of 10 members set out to tour the historic areas of Old Aberdeen. We were led by our secretary Sandra who knows this part of Aberdeen well. We started at the Cathedral Church of St Machar. At one point in the boundary wall is a marker for the spot where an arm of William Wallace is reputed to be buried. That was a surprise for most of us when Sandra pointed it out. Also in the boundary wall are the windowsills of the old bede house. The house is long gone and the windows have been built over. It is not easy to see until it is pointed out to you.
The next stop was the Wallace Tower café for reviving coffee and buns. We then went on to seaton Park, one the grounds of Seaton House the home of the Hay family, The park was purchased by the City of Aberdeen in 1947 and Seaton House was destroyed by fire and demolished in 1963. In the park is a memorial fountain to Malcolm Hay, the last laird of Seaton. Located in the park is a well maintained triangular walled garden, once the vegetable garden for Seaton House.
We then went on to the old Brig o Balgownie, the oldest, single span, arched bridge in Scotland that is still in use. Nowadays it is a beautiful tranquil spot with the river fringed by mature braodleaved trees. The bridge is now pedestrian only but for centuries it was the only access to Old Aberdeen from the north. As we walked back to the High Street the clouds open and rain stopped play. We will return again next year to visit more of this historic part of the city. Thank you Sandra for being such a knowledgable guide.
The Braes o Cromar 19 August
Because of the weather forecast we made an early start and fifteen members set out to visit the Braes of Cromar. The Braes are the setting for most of the stories written by George Gauld, which we hope to republish in the near future. We were led by Peter Craig and Elaine Petrie, co-editors of the planed publication. We were also fortunate to have Graham Bruce and Rob Everett along with us to share their memories of the area from their younger days. We started at Millton of Whitehouse where the mill is long gone. We heard the tales about the superstitions miller and the pranks played on him by the young rascals of the area.
We then went on past Bridgefoot and Bellabeg with more tales of cudgel competitions, an ill tempered gamekeeper with a tendency to violence and communal gatherings in the forenicht to hear the newspaper being read. All these activities took place in a landscape full of small farms and crofts, all now vanished, derelict or converted to holiday homes. The population of the Braes has now dwindled to a small fraction of the numbers in the early nineteenth century.
We then went on to West Auchnerran to hear of the “battle” between the whisky smugglers on the rocky crags and the mounted excise men on the track below. The skirmish went on for two days until the excise men gave up and withdrew. The case went to court but the judge was the laird who let his tenants off the charge on the basis that the excise men fired the first shot. The Braes are a little more peaceful nowadays and there are no whisky stills in operation – that we know of. We made it back to the cars at Mill of Whitehouse just as the rain started to fall. Our thanks go to Peter and Elaine for a fascinating Oot an Aboot.