Glenbuchat Heritage

115 Old Glenbucket and Warlds End Fraserburgh

A request form a Canadian correspondent on the web site led to research that brought to light John Gordon’s (Old Glenbucket) house in Fraserburgh.

The request was as follows:
On my GG grandmother Margaret (Murdoch) Simpson's death record it shows her death at Glenbuchat cottage in 1907. She died of TB. I would like to know if this was a Sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. Her home was Sinclair Hills near Fraserburgh and I would like to know why she was so far from her home.
Any information would be appreciated.

On researching the Murdochs in Glenbuchat I could find no connection with the lady in question. To my surprise, however, I did find a Glenbuchat link to Fraserburgh in the presence of a house there owned by Old Glenbucket himself.

The house is a called now ‘Warlds End’ House and above is a photo from Google Street View and an 1850’s map. While I could find no mention of a Fraserburgh sanatorium, the Glenbuchat Cottage mentioned may be the cottage at the rear of the House in the extensive garden.

More details are available in a Leopard Magazine article

Elegant town house

That Fraserburgh became a notable town – more than the average burgh of barony – can be seen in the elegant town house of the Gordons of Glenbuchat down on the Shore, now known as Warld’s End. The house is now in 1767 garb, but there is evidently an older structure within.

And that leads directly into the entirely unexpected saga of Fraserburgh as a garrison town. The North-East being staunchly Jacobite, it was dealt with harshly after 1745. Fraserburgh had manned gates, and a garrison built against the southern edge of the town, probably in the grounds of Warld’s End. The garrison commander probably occupied the house itself. There are buildings and reused bits of buildings on the high platform (parade ground?) immediately behind the house which might be relics of this period.

The house is a listed building and details are available from The British Listed Buildings Web Site.

The World's End 11 Dalrymple Street, Fraserburgh
Location: S Harbour Road, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire AB43 9DN

Listing Text
Circa 1767(') 2-storey and basement 3-window squared heathen stone with freestone dressings; quoins, shaped wallhead gable with arched window and ball finials, stairs to pedimented door-piece obscured by wooden porch, moulded eaves course and chimney copes. Poor condition.
References:
Cranna, Fraserburgh Past and Present p.382
Pratt Buchan p.175
Notes:
Belonged to the Gordons of Glenbuchat. Lord Pitsligo hid here after Culloden. Sold to Charles Gordon 1766. One of the best houses of its date in Aberdeenshire

If anyone knows any more information about the house or sanatoriums in Fraserburgh please let us know.

Various newspapers and publications refer to ‘Warld’s End’

Fraserburgh: Past and Present,
By John Cranna 1917
Harbour Treasurer

One of the most interesting houses in Fraserburgh, and one with a history, is “The Warld’s End.” Pratt, in a footnote in “Buchan,” says: “There is a tradition that in remote times a Castle, called ‘Glenbucket’ stood on the site now occupied by the house known as ‘The Warld’s End,’ but, as far as can be learned, there is no existing record of it, either printed or written.” Probably Dr Pratt was right in saying that there was no evidence to prove that a castle called Glenbucket once stood on the site of “The Warld’s End,” but the worthy doctor was evidently unaware that “The Warld’s End,” or probably an older mansion, which occupied the same site, belonged to the Gordons of Glenbucket up to 1746, and was occupied by that family, in the olden days as a town’s house, probably during the bathing season. There is ample documentary evidence to prove this, which makes “The Warld’s End” property, with its historical connections, still more precious in the eyes of Fraserburgh people. The information to be given now is entirely new to them.


The laird of Glenbucket, and the owner of “The Warld’s End,” in the beginning of the eighteenth century, was John Gordon, a man of a fiery disposition, a born fighter, and a staunch supporter of any cause he espoused. In view of his close connection with Fraserburgh, a brief reference to Glenbucket as a man may not prove unacceptable to “Broch” readers. A notice of him in Billings’ “The Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland” sums the man’s character up in a few sentences. It is as follows: “The Laird of Glenbucket was a feudatory of the Earl of Mar, and his rude fortalice very near the centre of the Earl’s domains. It would depend entirely on the turn taken by intrigues in London, about which the Laird of Glenbucket knew no more than he did of the politics of the Court of Cathay, whether he should be called out to fight for King George or King James. The latter was decided on, and the sturdy laird, having once taken his position, stuck to it. He was present, at the head of the Gordons, in the victorious part of the Jacobite army at the battle of Falkirk, and was all along conspicuous among the Highland leaders in that war. He kept his Jacobite feelings warm for thirty years, and heartily joined the standard of the Prince, unborn in his days of military leadership, who made the descent on Scotland in 1745. He was one of the few men of mark who escaped the vengeance of the successful party on both occasions, escaping to France in 1746. Not having been among those who had to feed the popular appetite for vengeance, and deliver a dying declaration on the scaffold, he has no place among the Jacobite biographies; but his name was so formidable, that, according to tradition, George II. used to start from disturbed dreams, in efforts to pronounce the name of Glenbucket, accompanied by exclamations of terror.”

The last part of the notice gives an awesome turn to the picture, and though King George’s disturbed dreams need not be accepted as Gospel, it may be mentioned that the blood-curdling tale is one truly Scotch, which occurs time and again in connection with the wind-up of historical or traditional stories of the North Country.

For his part in the rebellion all Glenbucket’s property, including “The Warld’s End,” was forfeited to the Crown. “The Barons of His Majesty’s Court of Exchequer in Scotland,” exposed, as an attainted property, “The Warld’s End” for sale by public roup at the Cross of Edinburgh, on the 2nd day of July, 1766. It was purchased by a Charles Gordon, Writer to the Signet, for the sum of £38 1s. 1⅓d. A copy of the disposition by the Barons of Exchequer, in favour of Charles Gordon, the purchaser, dated 15th August, 1766, is in the possession of Provost Finlayson, so that these facts are above suspicion “The Warld’s End” property in those days comprised not only the ground conveyed by the late Captain Dalrymple to the railway company and now comprised within their boundaries, but the whole of the area, mostly built upon, lying to the south of Commerce Street and bounded by Dalrymple Street, Seaforth Street, and the road leading from Seaforth Street to the Railway Station. Of course, this road and Dalrymple Street formed part of the property at one time. And all this ground went for £38 1s. 1⅓d. in 1766! Such a transaction was a libel on the importance of Fraserburgh! In addition to “the house at the head of the town,” it was the current belief in Fraserburgh fifty years ago that “The Warld’s End” was also a hiding-place of Lord Pitsligo for some time after Culloden.

Before the harbour improvements of last century changed the face of the foreshores from the root of the South Pier southwards, the sea came up quite near to where Dalrymple Street now is; and old natives, in delighting to tell of the changes that had taken place on the town, were wont to relate how, after a violent easterly gale, they had seen great heaps of seaware left on the road quite near the front gate of “The Warld’s End.” The name of the house is rather unique, and why it should have been so designated has puzzled many. The explanation is probably this: The town at the time the house was built was all located about the Braeheads and the northern part of Shore Street, with branches running towards High Street and College Bounds. The new house, so far separated from the town proper, at a time when distances were viewed differently from what they are to-day, would have appeared practical


Aberdeen Press and Journal - Tuesday 31 July 1945
"THE WARLD'S END": LINK WITH '45

THE Warld's End " House, situated quite near Fraserburgh railway station, is of interest in these days, on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the '45. It was the property of a robust Jacobite and, writes a correspondent, because it was believed to have been a hiding place of Lord Pitsligo, it must find its place in any record of the time.

" The War Id's End" is of two storeys, stone-built, with stone stairway leading to the upper fiat. Before harbour improvements of last century changed the face of' the foreshore, the sea came up quite near to its entrance. The first bomb dropped on the town in 1941 seriously damaged the building which was recently purchased by the Town Council from Dalrymple Hall and Cafe Co., Ltd. Born Fighter

The owner of "The Warld's End" was John Gordon, the laird Glenbucket. Strathdon, whose family occupied it during the bathing season. Gordon was a man a fiery disposition, a born fighter, and a staunch supporter of any cause he espoused. He was out in the "Fifteen," and it is said that he was the man who went to Italy and induced the Pretender to come over and endeavour to set the Stuarts back on the throne. Glenbucket was present and at the head of the Gordons in the victorious part of the Jacobite army at the Battle of Falkirk, and was all along conspicuous among the Highland leaders in that war. He was one of the few men of mark who escaped to France in 1746. It is said that his name was so formidable that George 11. used to start from his disturbed dreams in efforts to pronounce the name of Glenbucket, accompanied by exclamations of terror!

Property Forfeited

For his part the rebellion all Glenbucket's property, including "The Warld's End," was forfeited to the Crown. The latter was exposed for sale by public roup at the Cross of Edinburgh on July 2, 1766. and was purchased by a Charles Gordon, writer to the signet, for the sum of £38/1/11d. A copy the disposition in his favour was formerly in the possession of the late Provost Finlayson. Fraserburgh. And it should be noted that The Warld's End" property in those days comprised a large area of around now occupied by part of Commerce Street Dalrymple Street and Seaforth Street. Attainted property seemed to be going cheaply! After the '45 a detachment of soldiers was stationed at Fraserburgh, quarters in Commerce Street, still known as the Barrack I Square.


Aberdeen Press and Journal - Thursday 25 October 1928

GORDON OF GLENBUCKET.
Fraserburgh Link with Famous Jacobite. Delivering the opening lecture at the Fraserburgh West Parish Church Literary Society, the Rev. J. H. Williams chose as his subject, John Gordon of Glenbucket," whom described as one of the most famous of all Jacobites, and but for whom the Jacobite Rising of 1745 would not have taken place at all. John Gordon, said Mr Williams, was born at the farm of Noth, near Rhynie, in 1676. He was for the most of his life factor to the Duke of Gordon, and always in the summer-time he went to Fraserburgh where he had a seaside house, which stood near the railway station. The Warld's End was built by John Gordon.

He Recruits for Prince Charlie.

Glenbucket concerned in every attempt restore the exiled family, from Killiecrankie to Culloden. He was only twelve when he followed his father to the Jacobite camp. The supreme event of his life—and one which > certainly made history—occurred in 1737, when he sold his castle and estate, and with the money went journey to Rome, and thus was responsible for the plan of the attempt to set Charles on the throne. When the Pretender landed at Kinloch Moidart, Glenbucket presented his chief with the first prisoners of the war. Appointed major-general, he was indefatigable recruiting efforts in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire, which supplied the Prince with a quarter of his army. The remaining three-fourths were French, English, Lowland men and Highlanders. Fraserburgh, Peterhead, and the north part of Aberdeenshire was very strongly Jacobite.

After Culloden. He was of the party that wanted to continue fighting after Culloden. He was tried and sentenced to death, but the job was to get hold of him. Escaping on a small Swedish sloop 'near Fraserburgh, he went to Boulogne, where he spent his few remaining years. He treated with kindness and attention by the French court, and he received £2000 a year, marshal's pay. died in 1750.

He was married Jean, elder daughter of Harry Forbes of Boyndlie, near Fraserburgh, by whom he had a large family, and the blood of old Glenbucket was in the veins of some of the once Royal Houses of Europe. The Chairman, Mr George M' William, in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer, stated that after the Warld's End House was confiscated and. with the around on which it stood, was sold.

Appropriate Jacobite songs were given on the gramophone illustrate the address, which was enjoyed large audience.



Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties' Advertiser - Tuesday 07 August 1945

Property Forfeited
For his part in the rebellion all Glenbucket's property, including the 'Warld's End,' was forfeited to the Crown. The latter was exposed for sale by public roup at the Cross of Edinburgh on 2nd July, 1766, and was purchased by a Charles Gordon. writer to the signet, for £38 1s l1d. A copy of the disposition in his favour was formerly in the possession of the late Provost Finlayson, Fraserburgh. And it should be noted that "The Warld's End" property in those days comprised a large area of ground now occupied by part of Commerce Street. Dalrymple Street and Seaforth Street. Attainted property seemed to be going cheaply! After the '45 a detachment of soldiers was stationed at Fraserburgh, in quarters in Commerce Street, still known as the Barrack Yard.