Langwell Lairds Past and Present – Is it the Dawn of a New Day?

The Duke and Duchess of Portland at Badbea

Langwell Lairds Past and Present – Is it the dawn of a New Day?

Written by Alexander Gunn aka A Native of Badbea. Printed in the Northern Ensign 26 June 1894 Part A

To the Editor of the Northern Ensign:

Sir.- We are told that wonders never cease, and so true it is in regard to the wonder which I am about to relate, which is nothing less than that a real live Duke and Duchess (in the person of his Grace and Lady of Portland) a few weeks ago paid a visit to my native place, Badbea. This is the first time in its history that such exalted personages visited the humble clachan, and I suppose the only laird, of Langwell who favoured it with a visit since old James Horne used to call that way.

I remember the old man's visits. He used to call occasionally, riding a quiet dun pony. He would halt in front of our house and cry with a snivel, "John!" If my father was about at hand he responded to the call, and held the stirrup till the Laird dismounted. He then gave father the bridle, when the two walked along to Auchincraig, and after traversing the lawn, and being assisted to remount, the old laird retraced his steps back to Auchastle at a walking pace. He never put the pony to a trot.

To be continued….

My Comments:

As we know, Alexander Gunn had a deep abhorrence of the hardships the Lairds of Langwell had inflicted on their tenants. The years James and Donald Horne were the Lairds of Langwell  - 1816 to 1857 was a desperate time for the Badbea inhabitants with the increased rents to be paid and evictions always either threatened or enforced. The 5^th Duke of Portland purchased Langwell in 1857. This Duke was most remembered for his eccentric behaviour – he was a recluse who excavated an elaborate underground maze and tunnels under his estate at Welbeck Abbey. He wasn’t likely to be seen wandering round Badbea.

His cousin, the next Duke of Portland, was William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentink. His wife was Winifred Anna Dallas-Yorke. They lived like royals in the Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire and owned other estates including Langwell in Caithness. The Portlands visited the Langwell estate from time to time on shooting expeditions. It must be these two that Alexander Gunn is so surprised to hear had visited Badbea. And well he might be surprised as we know how inhospitable and dangerous this landscape was and certainly not a likely afternoon stroll for ‘such exalted personages’.

William Cavendish Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland by Elliott & Fry

Winifred Duchess of Portland by John Singer Sargent 1902

However, a bit of research reveals more about them both. 

One commentator says:

The Duke and Duchess of Portland were respectful and generous to the hundreds of staff they employed. Most of their staff had a job for life and were well cared for in the estate’s own hospital block when they were ill, and at such time nothing was deducted from their wages – at a time when the working classes had no privileges nor any help from the government. The Duchess of Portland was a passionate animal lover who kept stables for old horse and ponies, as well as old dogs. She also prevailed upon her husband to have some ‘alms-houses’ built for poor old women at Welbeck.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winifred_Cavendish-Bentinck,_Duchess_of_Portland

http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/portland1907/portland8.htm

It is this Duke that much later installed the Grey Hen’s Well memorial stone.

True to that closest to his heart soon Gunn diverges to write about Badbea and the laird James Horne.  He comes back to the Duke and Duchess of Portland before he closes his letter.  

At the time of the 1894 visit of the Portlands there were probably still a few families living in the area. The 1891 census shows at Badbea John Gunn and his family. John finally left Badbea in 1911. Also at Badbea is old Donald Sutherland and his family. Achnacraig has a four Sutherland women, two quite elderly – how they managed to survive is hard to imagine. 

Piece: SCT1891/38 Place: Latheron -Caithness Enumeration District: 19 Civil Parish: Latheron Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Berriedale Folio: 0 Page: 2 Schedule: 9 Address: Badbea

Surname

First name(s)

Rel

Status

Sex

Age

Occupation

Where Born

Remarks

GUNN

John

Head

M

M

45

Crofter

Sutherland - Kildonan

Language: Both

GUNN

Jessie

Wife

M

F

45

-

Caithness - Badbea

Language: Both

GUNN

Donaldina

Dau

-

F

12

Scholar

Caithness - Badbea

GUNN

Mary

Dau

-

F

8

Scholar

Caithness - Badbea

GUNN

Donald

Son

-

M

7

Badbea

Caithness - Latheron

GRANT

Georgina

Ma-Law

W

F

79

-

Sutherland - Brora

Language: Both

Piece: SCT1891/38 Place: Latheron -Caithness Enumeration District: 19 Civil Parish: Latheron Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Berriedale Folio: 0 Page: 2 Schedule: 8 Address: Badbea

Surname

First name(s)

Rel

Status

Sex

Age

Occupation

Where Born

Remarks

SUTHERLAND

Donald

Head

W

M

80

Crofter(Notem)

Sutherland - Kildonan

Language: Both

MCPHERSON

Hannah

Dau

M

F

31

-

Sutherland - Kildonan

MCPHERSON

Alexander

Sonlaw

M

M

30

Farm Servant(Em'ee)

Aberdeenshire - Huntly

MCPHERSON

Barbara

Grndau

-

F

2

-

Caithness - Latheron

PATERSON

Maggie

Servnt

-

F

13

General Servant

Caithness - Latheron

Piece: SCT1891/38 Place: Latheron -Caithness Enumeration District: 19 Civil Parish: Latheron Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Berriedale Folio: 0 Page: 2 Schedule: 7 Address: Achnacraig

Surname

First name(s)

Rel

Status

Sex

Age

Occupation

Where Born

Remarks

SUTHERLAND

Hannah

Head

W

F

81

Annuitant

Caithness - Latheron

Language: Both

SUTHERLAND

Isabella

Dau

U

F

58

General Servant

Caithness - Latheron

Language: Both

SUTHERLAND

Catherine

Dau

U

F

52

General Servant

Caithness - Latheron

Language: Both

SCT1891/38 Place: Latheron -Caithness Enumeration District: 19 Civil Parish: Latheron Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Berriedale Folio: 0 Page: 2 Schedule: 6 Address: Achnacraig

Surname

First name(s)

Rel

Status

Sex

Age

Occupation

Where Born

Remarks

SUTHERLAND

Janet

Head

W

F

78

Annuitant

Caithness - Latheron

Language: Both