4 – 12 Golf Course Road, Skelmorlie
Photos: 1. Main house c. 1990s. Source: Mrs C Kerr. 2. 1910 ordinance survey. 3. Prospecthill ariel view c. 1990s. Source: Mrs C Kerr.
| Owners | Dates | Alterations |
|---|---|---|
| The Earl of Eglinton & Winton | Pre 1883 | Land/Feu owner |
| Mr John Hamilton | 1883 – 1889 | Initial buildings |
| Mr James Fleck | 1889 – 1906 | Smiddy and replacement of stables |
| Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | 1906 – 1947 | |
| Archibald Allison Pearson | 1947 – 1953 | Plot split into 3 holdings and each sold separately. |
| Various including William Eugene Symes who owned the main house from 1947/8 to 1992 | 1948 – 1992 | |
| William Charles Symes | 1992 – 1998 | 1993: Aneex extended to include 2 bedrooms. a bathroom and staff bedsit. |
| Brian and Cath Kerr | 1998 – Present | 2004: Conservatory added to NE of main house. 2007: Extension to front and side of main house joining the properties into one. |
About the Property:
Prospecthill is a plot of land measuring 1 rood and 8.9 poles (approx. 1240 m2), which was originally part of Annetyard farm. It lies on the west side of Golf Course Road and south of Sandybrae Road and today is numbered 4 – 12 Golf Course Road. [1]
The plot was acquired from the Earl of Eglinton & Winton by John Hamilton in 1883. [1]
Over the years the form and number of buildings on the plot has changed. Our best view is that the first building, a two roomed house and stables, was constructed between 1883 and 1885. [3][4]
Sometime between 1889 and 1905, the main house/villa was built, a blacksmith’s workshop added (smiddy), and the existing two room house and stables replaced by/ or converted to, four 1-2 room dwellings. [3][4][5]
Whether when it was built or slightly later, an external staircase was added to the main building, allowing the ground floor (4 rooms) to be rented separately from the upstairs (3 rooms). [16][17]
Essentially from 1889 until 1947 Prospecthill was a business for its owners, with all the different components rented out separately. As far as we are aware, during this period none of the owners actually lived at Prospecthill. [3][4][5][9]
During the late 1940s and early 1950s the site was split into 3 plots, which were sold individually:
- The main house/villa and the ground to the east (up to Golf Course Road)
- The smiddy
- Three small dwellings, lying adjacent to and to the west of the smiddy. [1]
Ownership of the plots remained separate until the mid-1980s when they were brought together by William Charles Symes. [1]
During William’s tenure, he ran Prospecthill as a residential home to create additional income. In 1993, he applied for and obtained planning permission for an extension to the annex. The annex was essentially the three small dwellings, lying west of the smiddy. The design included retaining the original wall foundations (up to about 4 feet) and then building afresh above this, to create two residents’ bedrooms, a bathroom, and a staff bedsit. [1][17]
Photos: 1. The annex from the south showing original foundation wall. 2. Annex from the north. Source: ND.
The current owners have made further changes to Prospecthill, adding a conservatory to the northeast of the main house, and redesigning the whole property to create one building which encompasses the multiple structures. A dividing, sound-proofed, door allows the original house to be split for rental purposes. [17]
Photos: 1. Footprint of Prospecthill today. 2. Prospecthill from SE (old smiddy in foreground). 3. Prospecthill from NE. Source: Mrs C Kerr.
Photos: 1. Footprint of Prospecthill today. 2. Prospecthill from SE (old smiddy in foreground). 3. Prospecthill from NE. Source: Mrs C Kerr.
About the owners
Mr John Hamilton 1883 – 1889
John Hamilton was born in Irvine in 1841 to William Hamilton, gardener, and Hannah (Armstrong) Hamilton. [2]
We pick up John’s story in 1881 where we find him sharing a room in Auchendarroch house, Skelmorlie with three other men (a slater, a baker and a baker’s apprentice). John was 36, a widower and his occupation was carter. [3]
In late December of the same year (1881), he married Janet Ferguson, at Skelmorlie Toll Bar. Janet was also a widow and gave her usual address as Skelmorlie suggesting the couple met in the village. [2][3]
In 1883, the 13th Earl of Eglinton and Winton (Archibald William Montgomerie) feud Prospecthill (the plot of land measuring 1 rood and 8.9 poles) to John Hamilton, carting contractor on the basis he builds “one cottage or self-contained dwelling house of not less than four hundred pounds together with suitable and substantial offices including a Smith’s Shop”, within 2 years. [1]
In the 1885 valuation roll we find John Hamilton listed as both occupier and tenant of a house and stables. Although the house has no name, it’s most likely to be Prospecthill as it’s a direct neighbour of John Gray’s house (Shield House) mentioned in the original feu contract. John also appears to be renting a house and grounds, two doors down from his own, belonging to Robert Walker of Mountview Villa, as well as a room at Auchendarroch /Hope Villa. In 1885 there is no mention of the Smiddy at Prospecthill, but it may well have been unfinished or unoccupied. [4]
Following a sequestration order (bankruptcy) in May 1889, Prospecthill property and grounds passed to Trustees and was sold to James Fleck, writer, Largs. [1]
Despite no longer owning the property, John and his family stayed on at Prospecthill. The 1891 census lists John Hamilton(50) a self-employed carting contractor, his wife Janet (60), and two children John(20) a stonemason and Thomas(16), a carter’s apprentice, as all living in a two roomed house at Prospecthill. Authors Note: We assume that John (Jnr) and Thomas are John’s children (same place of birth) from his first marriage. [3]
John Hamilton, carter continued to rent the accommodation and stables at Prospecthill throughout the 1890s and into the 1900s. [4]
The 1901 census shows John (60), his wife Janet (70) and their 26-year-old son Thomas, were renting a one room dwelling together with the stables. John was still in the carting business but no longer self-employed and Thomas had become a joiner. [5]
By 1905, John and presumably Janet were no longer renting the stables and had moved into accommodation in the main house. By this time, the smiddy was up and running and the new Blacksmith had moved into the Hamilton’s earlier dwelling. [4]
John moved from Prospecthill sometime over the next five years and by 1911 he was living on his own in a 2 roomed lodging in Innes Park Buildings (The Diggings) and was employed as a domestic gardener. [5]
Mr James Fleck 1889 – 1906
James Fleck was born in Largs in 1851, 2nd child of James and Janet (Crawford) Fleck. In 1861, the family lived in the 8 roomed house at 2 Gallowgate Square, Largs. We learn from the census that his older sister was Mary Ann and that his father’s occupation was ‘Proprietor of Housing’. [6][7]
In 1881, James (29) by then a qualified writer (solicitor/lawyer) was back living at home in Gallowgate Square, with his father (72) retired cabinet maker and his mother (64). Also staying with them were James (Jnr)’s two nieces, Jessie Aitken aged 8 and Elizabeth Aitken aged 5, presumably both Mary Ann’s daughters. [7]
A year later, James married Elizabeth Orr, then 27 at her family home at Meadowbank, Largs. Elizabeth was the daughter of Robert Orr, Grocer and Margaret (Watson) Orr. [6]
By 1885, James was renting a house and offices in Gogo Street Largs for himself and family but also owned 4 other properties which he was renting out: two houses in Boyd Street, the house in Gallowgate Square and a further house & shop in Gallowgate Square. [8]
In 1891, James(39) and Elizabeth (36) were renting the 11 roomed Netherbank on the north side of Largs. By this time, they had a daughter Margaret Watson known as Maggie, aged 5. Also living with them was Bridget Boyle(18) a general servant from Greenock. [7]
James’s housing empire continued to expand. By 1895, he was still renting the house at Netherbank for himself and his family but in addition also owned 8 properties in Largs (3 houses and 1 shop in Nelson Street, 1 house in Boyd Street, 2 houses in Brisbane Road and a house in Gallowgate Square). [8]
By this time, he also owned Prospecthill in Skelmorlie which encompassed three buildings.[4]
| Year | Property | Owner | Tenant & Tenant’s Occupation | Yearly rent/value |
| 1895 | House, stables, etc. | James Fleck | John Hamilton, Carter (see above) | 16 0 0 |
| 1895 | Smithy /Smiddy | James Fleck | Alexander Carnduff, Blacksmith | 8 0 0 |
| 1895 | House & offices | James Fleck | Arthur Bartlett MacFarlane, Gentleman, 11 Garturk Street, Glasgow | 35 0 0 |
James Fleck and his family continued living at Netherbank until at least 1901. By this time Maggie (Margaret) the eldest daughter was 16 and there were 3 additional children: James(10), Bessie(9) and Mary Anne(5). They had one visitor staying with them, a Margaret Taylor from Paisley and one live-in servant Margaret Clegg(30) from Cardross. [7]
By 1905, James had continued to grow his property portfolio. In Largs he owned 17 properties/plots (4 houses and 1 shop in Nelson Street, 2 houses and a park in Brisbane Road, 1 house and 2 pieces of land in Irvine Road, the house at Netherbank, Moorburn house and offices, a further house at Moorburn, 2 houses in Douglas Street and fields on the north side of Largs). [8]
In Skelmorlie, he owned a further 5 properties (3 at Prospecthill, together with Moss Cottage and Rockmount House), all of which were rented out. His Skelmorlie properties alone bringing in nearly £200 per annum. [4]
| Year | Property | Owner | Tenant & Tenant’s Occupation | Yearly rent/value |
| 1905 | Prospecthill House | James Fleck | Alexander Carnduff, blacksmith | 16 0 0 |
| 1905 | Smithy /Smiddy | James Fleck | Alexander Carnduff, blacksmith | 10 0 0 |
| 1905 | Prospecthill House | James Fleck | John Hamilton, carter (see above)
George McCansh, carter Peter Grant, gardener Mrs Hugh Boyd, widow |
10 0 0
14 0 0 14 0 0 13 0 0 |
A year (1906), James Fleck died, aged 55, at Moorburn house in Largs. [6]
Mrs Archibald J Orr, 1906 – 1947
It took time for James’s estate to be settled. In 1915, the Prospecthill properties were held by the Trustees of the late James Fleck, writer Largs per Neil Mitchell 1 Gallowgate square, Largs, Factor. [9]
| Year | Property | Owner | Tenant & Tenant’s Occupation | Yearly rent/value |
| 1915 | Prospecthill House | Trustees of James Fleck | Mrs Jane McNaughton, widow | 20 0 0 |
| 1915 | Smithy /Smiddy | Trustees of James Fleck | John McNaughton, blacksmith (see below) | 12 0 0 |
| 1915 | Prospecthill House | James Fleck | James Kyd, gardener
Peter Grant, gardener James Chandler, 68 Langside Road, Glasgow Mrs Agnes Aitken, 361 Woodside Road, Gla. |
14 0 0
15 0 0 12 0 0 10 0 0 |
Note: Purple text denotes a change of occupier since the earlier valuation roll.
By 1920, the estate was settled and the properties at Prospecthill had passed to James’s eldest daughter, Margaret Watson Fleck. [9]
Margaret was married in 1914 at the age of 29 to Archibald J B Orr. At the time, Archibald Orr was 30 and a dry goods merchant, from Meadowbank, Prestwick, Manchester. His father was John Jack Orr, Calico Printer, and his mother Elizabeth (Boyd) Orr. The wedding took place in the Caledonian Station Hotel in Edinburgh and Margaret’s address was 29 Morningside Road, Edinburgh. [10]
After the wedding, the couple moved to Manchester but retained ownership of Prospecthill until 1947. During this period the owner was listed as Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester, per Neil Mitchell, 1 Gallowgate Square, Largs, factor”. [9]
| Year | Property | Owner | Tenant & Tenant’s Occupation | Yearly rent/value |
| 1920 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Mrs Jane McNaughton, widow | 24 0 0 |
| 1920 | Smithy /Smiddy | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | John McNaughton, blacksmith (see below) | 14 8 0 |
| 1920 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | James Kyd, gardener
Peter Grant, gardener James Chandler, 68 Langside Road, Glasgow Mrs Agnes Aitken, 361 Woodside Road, Gla. |
16 16 0
18 0 0 14 8 0 12 0 0 |
| Year | Property | Owner | Tenant & Tenant’s Occupation | Yearly rent/value |
| 1925 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Mrs Jane McNaughton, widow | 28 0 0 |
| 1925 | Smithy /Smiddy | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | John McNaughton, blacksmith (see below) | 16 16 0 |
| 1925 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Dougald Hyndman, gardener
Peter Grant, gardener Harry English, 34 Earlston Av., Townhead, Gl. Robert Cameron. |
19 12 0
21 0 0 19 12 0 14 0 0 |
Note: Purple text denotes a change of occupier since the previous valuation roll.
| Year | Property | Owner | Tenant & Tenant’s Occupation | Yearly rent/value |
| 1930 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Mrs Jane McNaughton, widow | 28 0 0 |
| 1930 | Smithy /Smiddy | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | John McNaughton, blacksmith (see below) | 16 16 0 |
| 1930 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Mearns Taylor McCaskie
Peter Grant, gardener Mrs Jane English, 34 Earlston Av., Townhead, Robert Cameron |
19 12 0
21 0 0 19 12 0 14 0 0 |
Note: Purple text denotes a change of occupier since the previous valuation roll.
| Year | Property | Owner | Tenant & Tenant’s Occupation | Yearly rent/value |
| 1935 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Mrs Jane McNaughton, widow | 28 0 0 |
| 1935 | Smithy /Smiddy | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | John McNaughton, blacksmith (see below) | 16 16 0 |
| 1935 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Mearns Taylor McCaskie
Peter Grant, gardener James Semple Robert Cameron |
19 12 0
21 0 0 16 16 0 14 0 0 |
Note: Purple text denotes a change of occupier since the previous valuation roll.
| Year | Property | Owner | Tenant & Tenant’s Occupation | Yearly rent/value |
| 1940 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Mrs Jane McNaughton, widow | 28 0 0 |
| 1940 | Smithy /Smiddy | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | John McNaughton, blacksmith (see below) | 16 16 0 |
| 1940 | Prospecthill House | Mrs Archibald J Orr, Manchester | Mearns Taylor McCaskie
Peter Grant, gardener James Semple Robert Cameron, Librarian |
19 12 0
21 0 0 19 12 0 14 0 0 |
Margaret held onto the properties at Prospecthill until 1947, when she sold them to Archibald Allison Pearson, Motor Engineer, Garage House, Bay.[1]
Archibald Allison Pearson 1947 – 1952/53
Archibald (known as Archie) Allison Pearson was born in 1910 at Beach House Stables, Skelmorlie to John Pearson, Grain Merchant, and Helen Samson (Smeaton) Pearson. [11]
Pearson’s Garage – Source: Facebook site [12].
In 1911, Archie and his parents were still living at Beach House Stables but by 1921, when Archie was eleven, the family had moved to “The Garage, Wemyss Bay”. [5]
In 1947, Archie purchased Prospecthill and over the following years, he split the site, creating a mutual access avenue running east (from Golf Course Road) to west and sold off the land in three separate holdings:
- Main house and land to the north of the access avenue.
- The smiddy/smithy (southeast of access road)
- Plot of land (southwest of access road) with three 1-2 roomed dwellings. [1]
Owners 1948 -1992
Authors Note: Because the 3 individual properties changed hands at different times, we’ve summarised ownership, during the period 1948 – 1992, by property.
Main House and associated land:
The primary holding was the main house and land to the north of the access avenue (marked orange in the diagram). [1]
Archie sold the main house and ground to Mr William Eugene Symes and whilst the date of sale is unclear, there is mention of Archibald Pearson and William Euguene Symes in a mortgage document dated 1948. Following William Eugene Symes death in 1984, the plot and house passed to William Charles Symes, his eldest son. [1]
The Smiddy/Smithy:
Prospect hill Smiddy plot
This plot of 5 poles comprised the smiddy, the strip of land to the east and the ashpit. Archie sold the smiddy to John McNaughton, blacksmith in 1953, who’d been renting the property since 1907. [1][8]
John McNaughton continued to run and own the site for a further 13 years before retiring and selling to John Ferguson in 1966. [1]
Three years later (1969), John Ferguson sold half of the holding to a Fredrick William Oliphant of Inverkip but when the latter died four years later, the trustees sold the half share back to John Ferguson. [1]
Following the death of John Ferguson, the Smiddy and accompanying land was sold to Thomas McDonald Rodger in 1986 and a year later to William Charles Symes. [1]
3 dwellings:
The final plot (marked in Green) which lay to the West of the smiddy, housed three 1-2 roomed dwellings, together with a washhouse and external toilets. [1]
Archie sold this property to William Hempsey, Car Salesman Leariggs, Bridgend, Skelmorlie in 1952. Three years later, William sold the eastmost (nearest to the Smiddy) property consisting of two rooms to Jean (Barr) Main, widow. [1]
In 1963 both William Hempsey and Jean Main sold their respective properties to John Ferguson. Following the death of John Ferguson, the houses were sold to Thomas McDonald Rodger in 1986 and a year later to William Charles Symes. [1]
William Eugene Symes 1947/8 – 1992
The Symes family, consisting of William Eugene Symes (1903), Klara Luice (Mulhauser) Symes (1903), daughter Clare Maria Bertha Symes(1928), son William Charles Symes(1932), and daughter Elizabethe Symes(1938), came to Scotland from Germany after WW2. [14][15]
It’s understood that the family suffered during the war. They were committed Christians and were believed to have been caught helping Jewish families. [16]
Initially the family spent some time in Glasgow before moving to Skelmorlie, where William bought Prospecthill house/villa together with its large front garden, from Archibald Pearson as well as a field from which they ran a chicken farm. This was known locally as ‘Symes Field’ and is where Balnagown Wynd stands today. [14][15][16]
Klara, William’s wife died young in 1955, aged just 52 but William stayed on at Prospecthill, employing a housekeeper called Cathie, until his death in 1984, aged 81. [15][16]
William, who had been a book repairer at one time, took up cobbling and there are many fond memories from locals, taking their shoes as children to be fixed in the 60s 70s and later as teenagers to have skegs fitted. [15][16]
One local remembered the large chicken coups up in Symes’s field and her family going up there most weeks for fresh eggs or a chicken. In the case of the chicken, Mr Symes would ask them to choose which bird they wanted and would kill it right there and then for them. There was also a billy goat, which was kept in a caravan in the field. [16]
Others remember the daughter Clare Symes, as their Sunday school teacher (North Church) and being invited up to Prospecthill for a Christmas party where there was a tall, real, Christmas tree, with lit candles all over. Once Clare left home, she lived at Balnagowan Cottage which sat in Symes field (now demolished). She died in 2006, aged 78. [15][16]
Elisabethe trained as a nurse and midwife. She married Tom Marshall in 1966. As well as becoming the district community midwife in Largs, she spent time as a local councillor and with her husband continues to operate their own self-catering apartments to this day. [14]
Although William Eugene Symes died in 1984, it was eight years before confirmation and inheritance was complete. In the interim, his son William Charles Symes and his wife moved to the property. [1][17]
William Charles Symes 1984/1992 – 1998
William Charles Symes, as mentioned above, was born in 1932 in Germany and emigrated to Scotland with his parents and sisters after the war. He married Elizabeth (Birch) Symes in 1956. [15]
In 1987, William purchased both the Smiddy and the 3 dwellings to the west of it so that in 1992 when he inherited the house/villa from his father estate, Prospecthill was brought back together as one, as it had been in 1893 -1948. [1]
To provide an income, William created a residential home and let out most of the house and outbuildings. [17]
In 1993 William applied for and obtained planning permission for an extension to the annex (previously the 3 dwellings) to create two residents’ bedrooms, a bathroom, and a staff bedsit. The original foundations and walls (to about 4 feet high) were used as the basis of this. [1][17]
Following a period of ill health, he sold the whole property to the Kerrs in 1998. William continued to live locally and died in 2006, age 76. [17]
Mr B and Mrs C Kerr 1998
The Kerr family, comprising Brian and Cath Kerr and their 3 boys: Steve then 8, Nick 7 and Josh 5, moved to Prospecthill in 1998. [17]
Over the next 12 years they transformed the property from a residential home to a family home. In 2004 they added a conservatory to the northeast corner of the house and in 2008 undertook a major development which joined all the properties together but also allowed the original house to be rented out as a 4-bedroom (sleeps 8) self-catering holiday accommodation.
Photos: 1. Conservatory attaching to the northeast of house. 2. 2008 architectural drawings. 3. Roofline of Prospecthill today. 4. Southeast aspect with what was the smiddy on the left. 5. East aspect with original house on right. 6. Floor plan today showing 1. Smiddy, 2. Three dwellings 3. Main house. Source: Mrs C Kerr and ND
Photos: Interior pictures of 4-bedroom Prospecthill holiday accommodation. Source: Holiday Cottages.net/Prospecthill
Authors Note: Should you wish to rent the 4-bedroom holiday cottage please follow the link here.
Additional Interest
Authors Note: Whilst our histories normally focus on the main owners of a property, one tenant stand out as deserving greater attention. This is John McNaughton who lived and worked at Prospecthill for almost 50 years and is remembered for his work as a blacksmith.
John McNaughton – Tenant c. 1915 – 1953 15Owner 1953 – 1966 of Smiddy
John McNaughton was born in Stonehaven in 1887 to John McNaughton, Engine Fitter (Journeyman) and Jane (Bain) McNaughton. He appears to be the eldest child of 6 with two born in Stonehaven, two in Glasgow, one in Gourock and one in Skelmorlie. [18]
We pick up John’s story again in 1911, when he was 23. At the time, he was living in a 3-room dwelling at Fardens, Skelmorlie with his mother Jane who was a widow and head of the household and his youngest brother Hugh, aged 7. At the time John gave his occupation as blacksmith and is an employee. [5]
Authors note: Was his employer Alexander Carnduff, Blacksmith, who was renting the smiddy at the time?
By 1915, the McNaughtons had moved to Prospecthill. John was then renting the smiddy (the Carnduffs having moved away) and Jane (John’s mother) was renting what we believe to be the ground floor of the main house. [9]
In the next census (1921) we learn that Jane McNaughton’s (61) household consisted of herself and 5 of her children: John (34) blacksmith and now employer, Peter (30) trader, Mary (28), Robert (25) blacksmith working for John and Hugh (17). The sixth child Isabella had died 3 years earlier from Influenza. In 1921 none of the children were married. [5]
From the valuation rolls (1915 – 1940) and Jane’s death certificate (1949), we know that the family continued to rent rooms at Prospecthill until at least 1949. [5]
In 1953, John McNaughton bought the smiddy from Archibald Pearson, at age 66. [1]
Thirteen years later when he was 79, he sold the smiddy to John Ferguson (1966) and retired. He continued to live in Skelmorlie until 1973, when he died aged 85 years old. [18]
John McNaughton is also well remembered by locals, with most of the village at some point visiting his workshop to have things mended such as pram wheels, lawnmowers, etc. [16]
Sources and References
[0] Wikipedia – various definitions (writer, rood and pole measures, etc) and processes (sequestration).
[1] Sasine deeds for Prospecthill provided by current owners Brian & Cath Kerr, covering 1883 -1992.
[2] Marriage certificate for John Hamilton
[3] 1881, 1891 censuses (Skelmorlie)
[4] 1885, 1895 and 1905 valuation roll (Skelmorlie)
[5] 1901, 1911, and 1921 censuses (Skelmorlie).
[6] Birth, death, and marriage certificates for James Fleck and family.
[7] 1861, 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses (Largs)
[8] 1885, 1895, 1905 and 1915 valuation rolls (Largs)
[9] 1915, 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935 and 1940 valuation rolls (Skelmorlie)
[10] Birth, death, and marriage certificates for Mrs Archibald J Orr.
[11] Birth certificates for Archibald Pearson
[12] https://www.facebook.com/pearsonofwemyssbay/videos/183765515801945/
[14] https://www.largsandmillportnews.com/news/14744464.golden-wedding-surprise-for-tom-and-elisabethe/
[15] Birth and death records for William Eugene Symes and family
[16] Locals remember the Symes. Facebook: Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay in their heyday.
[17] Input from current owners Brian & Cath Kerr.
[18] Birth and death certificates for John McNaughton and family