Dalziel of Bardrainney

It is difficult to imagine now, but the Bardrainney area of Port Glasgow was once quiet countryside with Bardrainney House and a surrounding estate of small farms.  The surrounding land belonged to James Cunningham, 14th Earl of Glencairn.  Alexander Dalziel living at Bardrainney was his factor, dealing with the efficient running of the Estate of Finlaystone.

any of the local farms were let out and as this newspaper clipping from 1789 shows, some of the names may be recognisable - Bogside, Knockmountain, High Langside, Laigh Langside, Laigh Castlehill, Bardrainnies and Parklee.

Alexander Dalziel was born in West Linton, the son of George Dalziel who was thought to have been an innkeeper at West Linton and Noble-house Inn.  He also owned farming land in the area. (He certainly seems to know how to attract clients!) 

It was reported that George Dalziel “was the first farmer that sewed turnip in open fields;  I believe he had a field of perhaps two or three acres at Linton, so early as 1763 or 1764.  I believe he might also be the first who cultivated potatoes on a large scale, by the plough”. (History of Peeblesshire, William Chambers, 1864.)  Alexander Dalziel had (at least) two sisters, Margaret, and Mary who married James Craig, a mason in Penicuik.

Earl of Glencairn

As factor to the Earl of Glencairn, Alexander Dalziel would have often had to travel to Edinburgh on the Earl's business and it is here that he is thought to have met the poet, Robert Burns.  They both admired the work of Edinburgh poet Robert Fergusson (1750-1774).  Dalziel is said to have been responsible for introducing Burns' poetry to the Earl of Glencairn who became a valued patron of the poet.

Burns and Dalziel corresponded regularly and Burns was devastated to learn of the Earl's death in January 1791.  He wrote to Dalziel:-

“My Dear Sir, I have taken the liberty to frank this letter to you, as it encloses an idle poem of mine, which I send you; and, God knows, you may perhaps pay dear enough for it if you read it through.  Not that this is my own opinion but the author, by the time he has composed and corrected his work, has quite pored away all his powers of critical discrimination.
I can easily guess from my own heart, what you have felt on a late most melancholy event.  God knows what I have suffered, at the loss of my best friend, my first and dearest patron and benefactor; the man to whom I owe all that I am and have!  I am gone into mourning for him, and with more sincerity of grief than I fear some will, who by nature’s ties ought to feel on the occasion.
I will be exceedingly obliged to you indeed, to let me know the news of the noble family, how the poor mother and the two sisters support their loss.  I had a packet of poetic bagatelles ready to send to Lady Betty, when I saw the fatal tidings in the newspaper.  I see by the same channel that the honoured remains of my noble patron are designed to be brought to the family burial place.  Dare I trouble you to let me know privately before the day of interment, that I may cross the country, and steal among the crowd, to pay a tear to the last sight of my ever revered benefactor?  It will oblige me beyond expression."

(Glencairn had died on his return from Lisbon where he had gone for his health.  He died and was buried at Falmouth, and not at Kilmaurs in Ayrshire which is where Burns seemed to think he was to be buried.  "Lady Betty mentioned in the letter was Glencairn's sister, Lady Elizabeth.)

Robert Burns wrote a poem Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn which you can read here.  He also named his fourth son James Glencairn Burns (1794-1865) in his memory.

James Glencairn Burns

Alexander Dalziel died in early January 1819.  His obituary from the Edinburgh Magazine & Review reads:-

"Alexander Dalziel, Esq of West Linton, formerly of Port Glasgow.  Mr Dalziel was the intimate friend of the Scottish poets, Fergusson and Burns; of the former he was accustomed to relate many interesting anecdotes, and, of the latter, he was fortunate enough to be the early patron, by introducing him to the Earl of Glencairn, an event which Burns never recollected but with the enthusiasm of grateful feeling.  Mr Dalziel is styled by an excellent judge, the elegant biographer of our immortal bard, one of the ablest of his correspondents.  No man was more remarkable for acuteness and accuracy in business, for a sturdy independence of mind, and for keen indignation at any appearance of falsehood, dishonesty and meanness.”

Alexander Dalziel seems to have been a very interesting character and is thought to have been an early  member of Greenock Burns Club along with fellow Port Glasgow resident and friend of Burns, Richard Brown.

Greenock - youth and maturity

These handsome men are to be found on the west façade of Greenock's Municipal Buildings - just opposite the Central Library in Wallace Place.  Look up - and there they are!

Presumably they represent youth and maturity, growth and strength.

The Municipal Buildings were designed by Hugh and David Barclay.  The foundation stone was laid on 6 August 1881 by Provost Dugald Campbell, and work continued for a number of years.

The whole building has some magnificent sculptures all the way around and there are more here on the west side - see photographs here.

I think these two are my favourites - for now!

An unpopular minister!

Back in the 18th century, church ministers were chosen by the local landowner.  Of course not every churchgoer was happy about that.  However, many congregations found ways of showing their disapproval when the lord of the manor chose a minister who was not liked.  Greenock was no exception.

Old West Kirk, Greenock

In 1786 John Shaw Stewart, the patron, presented the Rev Allan McAulay to the Presbytery as his chosen candidate for the vacancy at the Old West Kirk.  He was to be introduced to his new congregation on Sunday 19 May.  The day was not without incident.

When the beadle went to open up the church, he found that the doors had been barricaded shut and even the door into the pulpit had been fastened with nails and then the heads of the nails cut off.  The bell ropes had also been cut, so that the bell could not be rung on that morning.  Things were put right just in time for morning service.  Enquiries were made into who could have done this, but no culprits were found.  Some of those questioned stated that “those who had shut up the kirk were well warranted to do so from the word of God”.  It had obviously been a popular move.  Eventually, however, Rev McAulay was installed as the new minister. 

List of Ministers, Old West Kirk, Greenock

McAulay remained at Greenock for just three years, during which time he complained about the state of the manse, a new one was eventually built after he left.  He also disagreed with the Dr Adam, minister of the Mid Parish regarding when communion should be celebrated in the town.  He also caused some disquiet due to his “irregular marriage … and other scandalous conduct".  He was suspended from his post while an investigation took place and died shortly afterwards in 1791.  (Source - "Old Greenock", George Williamson (1888).)

For two years prior to his death during his suspension, pulpit supply had been provided by a number of different preachers.  Two months after McAulay’s death, much to their relief, the congregation got a new Minister – the Rev Robert Steele who remained their minister for 40 years.

Rev Robert Steele's gravestone Old West Kirkyard

A very similar scene is wonderfully described in the novel Annals of the Parish by John Galt, describing the introduction of the Rev Micah Balwhidder to his new parish in 1760:-

"First, of the placing – It was a great affair; for I was put in by the patron, and the people knew nothing whatsoever of me, and their hearts were stirred into strife on the occasion, and they did all that lay within the compass of their power to keep me out, insomuch, that there was obliged to be a guard of soldiers to protect the presbytery.”

He continues – “When we got to the kirk door, it was found to be nailed up, so as by no possibility to be opened.  The serjeant of the soldiers wanted to break it, but I was afraid that the heritors would grudge and complain of the experience of a new door, and I supplicated him to let it be as it was; we were, therefore obligated to go in by a window, and the crowd followed us, in the most unreverent manner, making the Lord’s house like an inn on a fair day, with their grievous yelly-hooing”!

John Galt

John Galt (1779-1839) moved to Greenock with his parents in 1789 and no doubt heard the story of McAulay’s welcome to the Old West Kirk.  Annals of the Parish was one of Galt’s most popular works and was published in 1821.