Buildings and Places : Scotland

Coodham Symington, Ayrshire

Estate and mansion in Symington parish, about 4 miles south of Kilmarnock. Originally held by a family named Baird, it was sold in 1826 to Mrs William Fairlie, the widow of a wealthy East India merchant from Kilmarnock. It was sold in 1871 to Sir William Henry Houldsworth, baronet. From 1947 to about 1978 it was occupied by the Passionist Fathers, but thereafter became vacant and derelict. From a collection of photographs of 'inhabited castles and mansions' of Ayrshire.

Dunaskin Brick Works, Ayrshire

The Dalmellington Iron Company founded the iron works at Waterside in 1847. The works were bought in 1931 by William Baird & Company Limited who established a new firm called Baird & Dalmellington Limited and built the brick works. The brick works closed in 1976. This shows the blowing engine house on the left with the Hoffmann kiln on the right. The arches in the kiln were entrances to the chambers.

Elie House, Fife

Elie house built in 1697 for the Anstruther family and legend tells that a curse was put on it that only six generations of the family would live in the house. William Baird of the Gartsherrie family and his wife Janet Johnson acquired the estate of Elie in 1853. And in the same year he purchased the Rosemount estate in Ayrshire where he had resided since 1845, and where he continued chiefly to reside.

Gartsherrie House, Coatbridge

Gartsherrie was owned by the Stark family who sold the estate in 1785 to Robert Colt of Auldhame. In the 1830s it was purchased by the Baird family of iron-masters, mainly William Baird of Elie and Rosemount followed by Alexander Whitelaw of Gartshore, MP for Glasgow and first chairman of the Glasgow School Board. Reference from the 'Old Country Houses of the Old Glasgow Gentry'
photograph by Thomas Annan of Glasgow (1829-1887)

Gight Castle, Aberdeenshire

The ruined remains of the 16th-century L-plan tower house of Gight Castle are located on the north bank of the River Ythan, 4 miles (6 km) east of Fyvie in Aberdeenshire. The castle was associated with the Gordon family, George, 3rd Earl of Aberdeen bought the castle for his son Lord Haddo and his wife Charlotte Baird. Sadly, Lord Haddo was killed at Gight by a fall from his horse. The castle was abandoned and became ruinous.

Haddo House, Aberdeenshire

Haddo House was designed by William Adam for the 2nd Earl of Aberdeen in 1732, and refurbished in the 1880's. The House elegantly blends Georgian architecture with late Victorian interiors by Wright and Mansfield. George Lord Haddo, 3rd Earl of Aberdeen was known as the Wicked Earl, because of his neglect of Haddo House. His son Lord Haddo married Charlotte Baird daughter of William Baird of Newbyth in 1782.