Cromarty Archive

Pitcalzean House - c1974

Pitcalzean House - c1974

Date Added: 15 April 2004 Contributor: Unknown Year: 1974 Picture No: 740

Pitcalzean House is a couple of miles from Cromarty, but on the far side of the firth. This pic was taken when it was owned by Highland Fabricators.

Albums: Aerial Views, Buildings

10 Comments

I think the brown track which crosses the drive must be where the pipeline from the terminal to the Beatrice field runs. Comment left on 15 April 2004 at 14:25 by Garve Scott-Lodge
This web site is becoming a first class reference system, for many facets of Cromarty & district's
recent history. My materal grand parents were Head Gardener, and Head Cook at this house, up
until the late 1940's in the employ of the late Col. Romanes. The house was sold after Romanes'
death, to the late, celeberated author Eric Linklater, after which it became the Offices of HI-Fab.
I used to visit my grandmother at the House frequently, taking a short cut across the former 18
hole golf course, which was 'in full swing', to coin a phrase, at that time.
Comment left on 15 April 2004 at 20:33 by Clem Watson
Garve - if that is the Britoil pipeline it means the photo was taken in the spring of 1979 or 1980 - I was working in Easter Ross surveying farms for DAFS those summers and remember the pipline being laid. Photo 606 shows the Nigg Terminal under construction, in 1980, and the pipline was laid the year before as far as I can recall. Comment left on 15 April 2004 at 22:49 by Calum Davidson
Garve & Calum can you please be a little more specific where "the brown track which crosses the drive must be where the pipeline" is located in this photo?
Was the Britoil pipeline here built above or below ground level as I noticed something that looks like a brown hedge running along behind Pitcalzean House and the other white building to the right looking towards the field with the white objects which I suspect might be sheep?
What does "DAFS" mean also?
Comment left on 28 March 2007 at 16:38 by Gerald Cronkwright
Hi Gerald, the pipeline has been buried - you can see the light brown backfill coming into the photo half way down the right hand side, crossing the lawn until it reaches the drive. You can then see it's continuation running up the left hand side of the field behind the house. Comment left on 28 March 2007 at 19:52 by Garve
Can someone tell me, does Pitcalzean House have any relationship to Pitcalnie, or are they completely different unrelated places? My Fraser ancestors lived and worked in Pitcalnie, early 1800s. Comment left on 28 March 2007 at 22:24 by Wilmer Fawcett
Rosemary Mackenzie, the grand old lady of Tain Museum, now sadly deceased, once told me a very funny story about Pitcalzean House. Apparently there is a balcony or window above the front door and on one occasion when Magnus Linklater was about three some visitors waiting at the door felt drops falling on their heads and thought it was starting to rain. But when they looked up they saw Magnus happily piddling on them from above. Comment left on 29 March 2007 at 10:19 by Estelle Quick
DAFS - Department of Agriculture for Scotland - one of the many names that this organisation has gone under over the years. The present name is SEERAD - Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department - but referred to as "the department" in farming circles! Comment left on 29 March 2007 at 11:42 by Anonymous
I remember a Hogmanay party at Pitcalzean in 1972; I went into a room and found Eric Linklater standing in front of a roaring fire. He evidently found my glass of red wine a bit namby-bamby, as he said, "Give me that glass and I'll put some real drink in it". He tossed the remains of the wine into the fire and topped the glass up with a liberal tot of whisky! Comment left on 02 April 2007 at 22:04 by David Macgregor
My family is about to spend a week in the house, so all of this information has been very interesting and I can't wait to roam the house of the late Linklater. Perhaps some of his books are in the wall-lined library? Lets hope so. Comment left on 27 December 2008 at 10:59 by Ryan Dixon
Form Goes Here