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PANMURE HOUSE

situated in the Panmure Estate, (part of which was in the former parish) Monikie, Scotland

You can read much more about the Panmure Estate and its history - see the links below,
or look for "panmure" in Google.

 Panmure House, Monikie

CLICK HERE for a monochrome postcard of the mansion house from this standpoint, but note the differences.

This photograph, from an old postcard, shows Panmure House - the "Big Hoose" as the laird's house was often referred.  It was demolished (partly blown-up by Army engineers) in the 1950s as it was considered to be beyond reasonable repair or modernisation according to the prevailing situation at that time.  Who knows if it could have been saved by today's standards.  There is a video copy of a 8mm small film taken around the time of the demolition and is available at Carnoustie Library, nearby.  The webmaster has seen this video and would recommend viewing to anyone with an interest in the subject of the Panmure Estate. Many employees are shown at there daily tasks, also workmen from Charles Brand of Dundee who appeared to be responsible for the demolition.  Heavy plant aficionados will appreciate the caterpillar tractors, the Ruston Bucyrus earth mover and the famous, grey Fergie tractors.

 (Winter 2008) The Webmaster copied the VHS tape referred to above on to DVD and given the 2 DVD copies to Carnoustie Library. Available to borrowers.


(February 2009) Marc is a correspondent to this website. As part of his studies, he is in the long process of creating a CAD model of Panmure House, based on several drawings and photographs on this website, and elsewhere. Inevitably, progress will be very time-consuming but recent information will be posted here. It would be good if some form of 'walk-through' display could eventually be available from this site. If this is of PARTICULAR interest to you please contact the Webmaster who can forward your interest to Marc.

(June 2019) Marc has supplied several CAD images and are available on other pages in the current series of nine webpages of the The Panmure Estate.

(August 2000) There is a reprint of newspaper clippings, original source unknown, but forming part of the Lamb Collection at Dundee Library, are reproduced on an additional page.  This gives much added information about the Panmure Estate, the above buildings and the history of the Estate.

The following is an edited submission from Ted J, a previous resident in Panmure House (written from Germany in January 2010).

Dear Webmaster,
Walking my way over the snow covered mountains here in Saarland this morning with my dog I got to thinking about your suggestion of suitable tales of Panmure.
This story goes back to the late, hungry '40s, but was related to me by the two involved parties only in the early '90s.
I had returned from overseas after some years and drove up to Carnoustie to visit old friends and sample the Station Hotel (Carnoustie) beer. On the list of people to visit were two old acquaintances, both by then in their very late 80s or early 90s. These were Mr. Braithwaite, the long retired head-keeper of the Panmure Estate & Ned Soutar (spelling?) who was the dry-stone dyke builder for the estate. Ned, who was originally based in Newbigging (village, south of Monikie) had, after the death of his wife, moved to Wellbank (west of Monikie) to live with his daughter, while Mr. Braithwaite had, despite suggestions from his son and daughter to live with them, had moved into an old folks' home situated to the north of Kirriemuir, (in Angus).
When I finally caught up with Ned he'd aged tremendously from the spry 85-year-old who'd taken my shotgun from me when we were shooting pigeons one evening in the wood overlooking Newbigging. He told me "this is how you do it lad" bang! bang! - two pigeons in the air both dead. He really was at that time, in a remarkable condition - more akin to being 58 years rather than the reverse.

Well, I found Ned sitting in a low chair in the kitchen with his new Springer spaniel bitch lying under it - the dog was named Cora, which in itself was interesting as I also had a Springer bitch with the same name.
We yarned away about things when life we were both younger and he told me how his time on Earth was now very limited (he was the same age as the late Queen Mother). Of course I denied that he'd meet his minder soon.
Eventually, Mr Braithwaite's name was mentioned, "had I been to see him?" and then this rather lovely story came out from Ned.

Years ago he'd been building a dyke when he came upon a pheasant, squatting just beside his hand. The temptation was too much, the bird was grabbed and it's neck rung. Then, to his horror, he spotted the head-keeper lower down the field, walking up towards him! What was he to do? He then noticed a large puddle beside him and put the bird in the puddle, placing a large flat stone over it.
Mr. Braithwaite's dog ran up and smelt the bird and Mr. Braithwaite said to Ned "there must have been a bird here." Ned duly confirmed that he'd seen the bird running away as he'd approached it and no more was said.
(But he, Ned said that he was in a cold sweat, fearing the head-keeper would find the bird.) Ned thought he'd tricked the head-keeper and was quietly pleased about this! A couple of days later I visited Mr. Braithwaite in the old folks' home and again we yarned of times long passed. Then, as was usual, he told me I had wasted my life as an engineer as I'd have been a grand-keeper. "It's in your blood - your like a finely bred gundog." (I think the man was correct"!)
Eventually Ned's name came up and had I been to see him. I confirmed that I had, mentioned his dog, etc. Then, to my surprise Mr. Braithwaite started to tell me his version of the "pheasant in the puddle" story. He'd seen Ned kill the bird and where he'd hidden it and he knew that Ned thought he'd fooled him. I asked "Why didn't you challenge him about it?" and he said that Ned was a good man, he had a young family, food after the war was scarce and he lived in a 'tied' cottage. It really was a superb story and I was honoured that two old men could confide this secret to me. The average gamekeeper wouldn't have acted in this kind manner at all but would have exposed the act. It was only later, after thinking about all this, that I realised what a superb man Mr. Braithwaite was. If this incident had ever come to light he and his family could well have been dismissed & ejected from their 'tied' cottage.

Both men died within a few days of my seeing them. As I was once again overseas, unfortunately, I missed both funerals. However I have it on record from both Bill Braithwaite (son and the then head keeper (Jim??) of Panmure Estate) that, as the coffin of Mr. Braithwaite was lowered into the grave, a cock pheasant launched itself from the corner of the graveyard and flew right over the grave cock-cocking all the way.
A very fitting tribute to a superb countryman.
I hope this is of interest to readers.
Ted J
p.s. I've cleared this recollection with Bill Braithwaite Tales.

 

Panmure Estate.

More information about the Panmure Estate and its history, together with information about some notable buildings on the Estate, photographs, etc. can be seen above and elsewhere on this site, Panmure 1, Panmure 2, Panmure 3, Panmure 4, Panmure 5 Panmure 6, Panmure 7, Panmure 8 and Panmure 9.

You are advised to use the search engine, www.google.co.uk for more on this site and for related content on other sites. 

Watch video on Google Video  by clicking the link below

Panmure Estate, Angus, Scotland

 

The Panmure Estate was sold-off in 2001 - read about it HERE.

Look at several photographs of the estate HERE.


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This page was updated - 22 June, 2019