Self Catering holiday homes accommodating from 2 to 12 guests
in the heart of Moray - Whisky and Castle Country

History Of Brylach Time Birchfield House In 1870, Edward Dunbar-Dunbar and his wife Phoebe built a grand shooting lodge which was then named Birchfield House. It was used as their summer residence, the rest of the time being spent at Seapark about fifteen miles away near Kinloss. By 1875 they had also built a carriage house, stable block and quarters to house their servants. This building was built on four sides of a cobbled courtyard with an arch topped by a clocktower allowing entry from the North East. Inside were two carriage houses, stabling for 10 horses, a laundry room, hayloft, outside privy, and accommodation for more than a dozen staff. By Victorian standards the staff accommodations was almost luxurious. Each room had its own access from the courtyard with an open fireplace for heating. Other Houses The Kennels Various other buildings were also built to house the extensive staff that were employed by the estate. Two substantial houses were built around the same time which were known at various times as 'West Lodge', South Lodge', 'North Lodge' and 'The Kennels' The local interest library at Grant Lodge in Elgin is a goldmine of information with staff who are eager and very knowledgeable on how to go about researching the history of just about anything or anybody in the area. They directed us to the valuation rolls of the period which detail the names and occupations of the people living in each house on a certain date but unlike a census, they are updated every year so it is easy to trace the changing residents of Birchfield and it's adjacent properties. The only problem comes when different valuers use their own description for houses which doesn't necessarily match the previous year! This is when you have to put your detective hat on. Roy's parents live in what is now called 'The Kennels', so called because, adjacent to the house is a purpose built kennel block which at one time housed the gundogs which were looked after by the gamekeeper. It is about 300 yards down the track from Brylach on a bend in the road. The 1881 census tells us that John Robertson the gamekeeper lived at West Lodge with 'Janet Macdonald - a servant' so it is reasonable to assume that The Kennels was originally called West Lodge. North Lodge was occupied in 1881 by John Sandison - the gardener, his wife, two daughters, William Shearer - the under gardener and another man named Colin McKirgie. By 1891, John Roberson who was then 69 years old was still living at West Lodge but was now sharing it with Jessie Robertson - a servant who was just 17. This may have been his daughter or even his wife! North lodge doesn't get a mention, instead a house which may have been called Birchfield Gates is listed with Andrew MacPherson - 'a surfaceman', and his family living there. By 1901 the picture gets more confusing - the gamekeeper William McCall and his family of 6 are listed as living at South Lodge which only 20 years before was called West Lodge! We know that it hadn't moved positions but assume that not many people had compasses in 1901 and the valuer would just have used a name that he had heard other people using. The North lodge reappears but is uninhabited. Local enquiries have told us that one of the lodges was built against advice on a patch of marshy ground and subsided and disappeared completely only a relatively short time after it was built. It was reputedly built at the end of the sweeping driveway up to the house so could it have been known as the Gatehouse or Birchfield Gates? More investigation is needed on this particular mystery. 'Brylach Holiday Homes' - Glen of Rothes - Aberlour - AB38 7AQ - Scotland Telephone/Fax + 44 01340 831983 Email: brylach.time@virgin.net www.brylachtime.co.uk Web Site Copyright © 2002-2003 Web Site Design by AmericanScot.com