|
The History of Gartmore
- 18th Century
 In the early 18th century, Nicol
Graham (younger) of Gartmore House, began to lease an area of his estate
in order to lay the foundation of a village. The outcome can be seen in
the ordered lay-out of the main street and, as a result, Gartmore is one
of the best examples of an estate village in Scotland. Amongst the
earliest of the newcomers encouraged to settle by Nicol Graham were a
maltman (making ale), a cordiner (making footwear), a wright (to repair
carts), a tailor, a surgeon, a vintner, several merchants and a minister
of the church. Nicol Graham could see the advantages of developing a
community which would contribute to the growth of his estate and thus to
his power and influence. He was also prepared to defend Gartmore by arming
himself and his villagers in order to control the behaviour of his
marauding northern neighbours, the most famous of whom was Rob Roy
MacGregor. Thus the village catered for the needs of the drovers and other
users of the north/south route and also provided security in numbers to
protect itself and its inhabitants.
 The original street of Gartmore had
dwellings with thatched roofs which rested on thick rubble stone walls
with small windows. The smoke from the fire built upon the bare earth or
stone-slabbed floor blackened the rafters. The majority of dwellings had
outbuildings to the rear: originally these were byres, but many were later
used to accommodate the outside “privy” and wash house.
|
History quick links:
|
