For your edification, and no particular reason other than I can, I have decided to display some images of castles from NE Scotland, which have in almost every instance a merely tenuous link with my family history. Thank you for watching!
This one is Boyne Castle near Portsoy, where several generations of the Muiry (Murie) family from which I'm descended were Master Gardeners. It doesn't run in the blood, I like looking at nice gradens, but have no patience whatsoever when it comes to making them that way.
This is Ballindalloch on Speyside, where the Murie's went once Boyne Castle was abandoned. They worked here from about 1800 - 1840.
This is Findlater Castle, on the coast about half-way between Cullen and Portsoy. It has been abandoned for a long time. In the 1850's my Gt Grandfather Alexander Riach who was a 13 year old shepherd on a nearby farm, spent several nights sheltering with his flock in the castle ruins, as a horrendous blizzard raged around him.
This is Fordyce Castle. My grandmother was born in a cottage right behind the castle, and my Gt Grandmother live in a house about 10 yards off, in a lane to the right of picture.
Huntly Castle, once proud home to the Earls of Gordon, at one time the most powerful family in Scotland. My wife's family claim descent from the Gordon's although they have no real proof. There are a great many pointers to suggest a connection however! Well, that filled another post, I hope you enjoyed!
