Estate Workers

1900s | 1940s

1900s

At the time of the 1901 census the newly married Laird and Lady of Craigends (John and Alison Cuninghame) were not resident. There was still an extensive staff in residence though, which indicates that the estate was still regularly used by the gentry.

Mansion House

Eleven servants lived in Craigends House itself. It is likely their quarters were restricted to the basement and east wing. The butler John Campbell and footman John Smith were the only males. Of the nine ladies all were unmarried, from outwith the local area and mostly young (under 22). They were Janet Spence (housekeeper), Hannah Holmes (laundrymaid), Catherine Robertson (laundrymaid), Margaret Glover (housemaid), Euphemie Walker (housemaid), Margaret Meikle (kitchenmaid), Georgina Winton (scully room), Margaret Findlay (housemaid) and Janet Coupar (chef's room).

East Lodge

Home to the Mackay family. At the time of the census the husband and father of the family was not resident though his profession is indicated as joiner. Agnes Mackay lived there with her five children: John (clerk), Gilbert (apprentice joiner), James (apprentice joiner), Charles and Kate. The children, all born locally, ranged from age 10 to 28.

South Lodge

Home to the house joiner Joseph Fraser and his wife Catherine Fraser. They were long term residents of the house, appearing in the 1881 and 1891 census records. In previous years they had raised four children. By 1901 their children had left and Joseph and Catherine were an elderly couple, approaching old age.

North Lodge

Not currently known

Stable Buildings

The main stables house was home to the coachman John Couper, his wife Isabella and their four adult children: Joanna, Agnes, John (grocer's assistant) and Arthur (draper). John was the longest serving member of staff at Craigends, appearing as coachman in census records dating back as far as 1871. Again all his children were born locally, quite possibly within Craigends estate itself.

At the neighbouring stables dwelling lived John Couper's second son Andrew Couper and his wife Margaret. It is clear that having found a wife he had moved in to his own space. Andrew served as a groom.

Groom's Apartment

Home to two grooms: John Morrison and Walter Weir. Both were young men and were from Glasgow and Ireland respectively.

Gardeners Cottage

Head gardener Donald McBean lived here with four of his children (James, Mary, Isabella and Donald), having been widowed at a tragically young age. The McBean family were long term residents on the estate: in 1881 Donald lived in the cottage with his wife Isabella and their five young children. The large and pleasant cottage they lived in was testament to the privellaged position of Head Gardener. His children (once again, all born locally) can be seen to be comapritively upwardly mobile by their professions: textile salesman and apprentice architect.

Gardeners Bothy

This much smaller building was the cramped home for four young men: John Murray, John Ferrier, William Gibson and Agnus McLeod. All were gardeners from the east coast of Scotland who served as assistants to Donald McBean.

Home Farm - Factor's House

Home to Robert McLaren his wife Susan, their unmarried, middle-aged daughter, Helen, and a domestic servant, Annie Robertson. The factor's job was to manage the running of the estate on behalf of Mr and Mrs Cuninghame and as such it was a highly regarded position. The comparative affluence of the small family is witnessed by the presence of their own domestic servant.

Home Farm Courtyard

Home to the ploughman John McCorkindale his wife, Margaret, and their four children: Mary, John, Margaret and Rose Ann. It appears that John, an Irishman, having married a local lived for some time in neighbouring Crosslee before taking the position at Craigends. Their two youngest children were born in Kilbarchan parish.

Home Farm Cottages

The elderly gamekeeper Mathew Gilmour lived in this large house with the domestic servant Elizabeth Blue. Mathew had lived in this house for over twenty years previous with his wife Agnes, now deceased.

1940s

By the 1940s the running of the estate had become a significantly reduced operation. The estate was requisitioned during the war years by the British Army and during that time many soldiers were stationed there. Throughout the decade the widowed Alison Cuninghame lived in the family wing with her sister Helen Laura Pearson and brother Fairlie Pearson (until his death in 1948).