Ochtertyre Pics Then and Now

  1. This my first Blog of the new decade and  my 231st in total. It is lovingly dedicated  to my children with deep love and affection - Nic Mayall - Elise MacDonald - Jasmine Mayall and  the late Richard Mayall . Doad x
Ochtertyre Pics Then and Now



Ochtertyre was built  for the Murray family  between  1785 and 1789 to the design of architect  James McLeran . The present owner is Sir Brian Souter co-founder of the  Stagecoach transport conglomerate  and  functions  as his country retreat . Of  particular  interest are the developments in the  mid  19th century  . The 7th Baronet Sir William Keith Murray ( 1801 – 1861 )  was a  bit  of an astronomer and in his  wisdom decided  to build an observatory  to the west of the family  home .  This  fortunately corresponded  with the  growth and development of  photography as the main  source of recording people and places . We  are indeed fortunate  to have  more than  a  few  pics  of  Sir William’s   handiwork .
The Murrays for  generations  retained a  close  affinity  with the nearby  town of Crieff  and  is  recorded  that there was an open invitation  from  him  to any citizens  with an interest or  curiosity  of the study of the stars . When he  died the instruments were  donated  to the Hunterian Museum of Glasgow University  . Amongst  these  were a 9 inch Cooke Refractor ( 13 ft Equatorial ) , its drive and the smaller tripod  mounted refractors .
The  Observatory  building was not demolished  but turned into workers cottages with little trace of  their unusual past









The Ochtertyre Estate its hey day was a  sizable entity . My earlier  blog :
https://perthshirecrieffstrathearnlocalhistor.blogspot.com/2016/03/ochtertyre.html
was an extract  from the actual Rental Roll Book of 1865 . Perusal  shows a considerable  number of  farms and grass lands  stretching  from Monzievaird in the west  to Fowlis Wester in the east .






                                             The Observatory That Was 



Sir Patrick Keith Murray 10th Baronet  circa 1880


The Murrys owned  Loch Turret and as a  gesture to the town of Crieff and its citizens provided a free  water  supply . When  you get  your next Bill from Scottish Water just  quote me and I am sure all will be well !!

The Murray Fountain


'ERECTED BY THE INHABITANTS OF THE BURGH OF CRIEFF' 'A RECOGNITION OF MANY BENEFITS RECEIVED FROM THE MURRAYS OF OCHTERTYRE'  Designed  by William Mossman and erected in 1893 This  picture was  taken that year and if  you look carefully   you will note  the  builder’s refuse all around it !





An interesting pic  from 1899  showing the 21st birthday  celebrations  for the son of the 10th Baronet,  Patrick Keith Keith -Murray .The  citizens of  Crieff marched  from the town  to Ochtertyre  led  by the Town Band .



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