Interviews of Mrs Potts

In interview 1 of 4 (DG47/2/1/1), Mrs Potts talks about her family and childhood memories. She has a close connection to the area around Carsluith and recalls many of the same people, families, farms and estates as the interviewer. She recalled that her grandfather Gilmour had 8 children: 4 girls and 4 boys.

Colonel Hannay gave her grandparents permission to build Ellangowan, on the shore at Burnfoot, and Mrs Potts described how, over the years, additional rooms were built on to the dwelling as the family grew. Her grandfather was known for making herbal medicine and her grandmother served as the local midwife. The sons went to work at the quarry from school but soon left to become policemen in other places. The daughters all trained as cooks, with one aunt going to work for Colonel Hannay at Ravenshall.

Her family, through her mother, also had connections to Sir Arthur Millington and also Lord Armstrong of Jesmond Dean. Her parents took a job with the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, who lived on an estate at Cairnsmore, and the family lived there, in a gamekeeper’s cottage, until Mrs Potts was 16. She recalls that there were 16 gamekeepers on the estate at that time. She also recalled Andrew Hannay’s father being brought to the big house as a child to have tea with the Duke and Duchess.

Mrs Potts and Andrew Hannay share memories of Achie Cairns, who was the farmer at Carsluith Farm and Mrs Potts recalled that the water from the well at this farm was particularly lovely. They also share recollections of Mrs McGilp, who had some unruly goats, and other local people.

In DG47/2/1/1 track 2 of 4 Mrs Potts and the Coull family are, speaking about S_, says that she has permission to be buried there as she ‘couldn’t rest anywhere else’. At the outbreak of World War 1, the 6 young gardeners at the Cairnsmore estate were called up and three land army girls were sent to help out. Mrs Potts recalled that the head gardener, on seeing the girls in their trousers, immediately gave in his notice. Mrs Potts was a teenager then and she was also sent to work in the gardens. She recalled the estate horse, Molly, wearing a hat in the summer, as well as moccasins to prevent damage to the lawn.

In track 3 of 4(DG47/2/1/5), Mrs Potts talks more about her recollections of her early visits to Carsluith and her grandparent’s house at Ellangowan. Her grandmother, Margaret Moore, was born in 1836 and died in 1929. She had married William Gilmour in 1888 and he had built Ellangowan from stones gathered from the beach. He paid Mr Hannay of Ravenshall 1 shilling a year in rent. Mrs Potts described the interior, and how the house changed over time.

Her grandfather fished and fish was a main part of their diet, especially the spotties (flounders). A burn nearby provided watercress. Mrs Potts talks about various aunts and uncles, including Hugh, who became a policeman and worked in Hong Kong. Mrs Potts was named Hughina after him. Other local people are remembered and Mrs Kerr, who has joined the interview, also contributes her own memories. As well as specific people, the group talk about Carsluith Castle, which the women recall was always known as Ellangowan Castle by the locals. They talk of local landmarks and routes, walnut trees, caves, ships coming in to fill up from the quarry and specific houses.

Mrs Potts remembered being sent up to McGuffie’s mill with a clean white pillowcase, to collect the oatmeal and she and Mrs Kerr talk about the mill, millers, prices. They also speak about soordook (buttermilk) and an oatmeal drink, which were favoured during haywork for quenching the thirst. The pair also talk about harvest work, steam threshing machines and the local birdlife and how this has changed over time. Towards the end of the interview there is a discussion about the gaun folk who once frequented the area. Mrs Potts recalled a man who used to live in a cave and Mrs Kerr remembered a man called Fagan, who had an old violin.

The final track (DG47/2/1/7 track 4 of 4) is largely concerned with exploring who lived in various cottages and dwellings in the Carsluith area during the interviewee’s lifetime (born approx. 1895). Dwellings discussed include Cairnholly, Homecroft, Kirkmuir, Kirkdalebank, Kirkdale Port, Burnfoot House, Claughreid, Broch cottage, The Birks, Hazelwood Cottage and Carsluith Farm. Anecdotes are shared and the interviewee also talks about the role of the roadman, a position her father once held for a 4 mile stretch around Ravenshall.