Craigends of the 20th Century | Alexander Cuninghame, 16th of Craigends

Alexander Cuninghame, 16th of Craigends

also Alexander Cuninghame

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Alexander Cuninghame was the second son of Cuninghame of Craigends, but in 1858 he purchased the family estate from his nephew Colonel Cuninghame, and built the handsome mansion which is now the chief seat of the family.

Just below these were four other new families nearly in the same class. These were the [...], the Cunninghames of Craigends, ironmaster near Glasgow in the nineteenth century, owners of 33,950 acres (£16,612 per annum) plus £2,500 in mineral rents; [...] These men are the only examples of Britain's top wealth holders to purchase land on so great a scale.

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* The Cunninghames should probably be subtracted from this list as, strictly speaking, they were not new men. Their Craigends estate had been in the Cunninghame family since 1479. The half-millionaire ironmaster Alexander Cunninghame (1804-66) purchased the estate from his elder brother's son in 1858.

It appears Alexander Cuninghame rented Craigends from his nephew for some years - living at Old Craigends House - before he purchased the estate from him in 1858 and built the modern Craigends House.

Mr Cunningham was educated partly by private tuition and finished in the Glasgow University. Shortly after he left the college he started a small colliery and lime work on a part of the Craigends estate which he carried on until the period when he became a partner in the Carnbroe works. In 1848 he married Miss McHardie sister to Mrs Merry.

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The late Alexander Cuninghame, Esquire, of Craigends and Walkinshaw, left a trust-disposition and settlement, dated 14th August 1856, whereby he appointed James Merry, Esq., and others, trustees. By the third purpose of a codicil of the trust-disposition he provided - "That my trustees shall, from the said [544] residue of my estates, make payment of the following annuities and legacies - viz, to my sister Mrs Margaret Cuninghame or Duke, wife of Roger Duke, Esquire, of an annuity of £200 sterling yearly during all the days of her life, and after her death each of her children shall be paid a legacy of £1000 sterling when my trustees find it suitable and convenient to pay the same"...

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DEATH
At Craigends, Renfrewshire, aged 62, Alexander Cuninghame, esq. of Craigends and Walkinshaw. He was the second son of the late John Cuninghame, esq, of Craigends, by Margaret , dau. of Sir William Cuninghame-Fairlie, bart., and was born in 1804. He was a J.P. and D.L. for co. Renfrew, and married, in 1848, Jane, dau. of the late James McHardy, esq. of Glenboig, co. Lanark, by whom, who died in 1864, he has left, with other issue, a son and heir, John Charles, born in 1851.

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called on uncle sandy not in

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met Uncle Sandy at hain?

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At Johnstone in the morning with Uncle Sandy.

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letter from Uncle Sandy.

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Went to see Uncle Sandy at office - spoke about entering into business with Q. John?

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at Uncle Sanddy's office about Uncle John's letter.

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May 13th 1842
from Craigends,.. Cecy and Fanny were quite delighted with their visit to Uncle Sandy, seeing
all the wonders of the Iron Furnaces and Works, which employ nearly a thousand Men Sandy
has every thing both in his House, and out of it

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8th June 1842 Glasgow, to Mrs Margaret Cuninghame
26th June 1848 Limecraigs, "We ride out, boat, fish, & amuse ourselves the whole day..."
29th June 1848 Craigends, to WB, "very much obliged to you for your kind good wishes towards my young
"intended" & myself"
15th April 1849 Craigends, "it is the duty of us all to make Mina as happy as possible, now that she is to be
married"
21st June 1849 194 Atholl Place, a Still born son, and then again on Sunday morning (the next day?)

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Sandy and a Wm Calder from Glasgow dined with me.

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Called on Sandy and agreed to dine with him.

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Dined with Sandy in Regents Street Mother and Mina with him.

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