Attribution: Collage by Siobhan Fraser 

Rosehaugh Estate

Rosehaugh Estate

This is one of the few remaining buildings on the Rosehaugh Estate of the grand buildings commissioned by James Douglas Fletcher. As its name implies it was the dairy to the ‘big house’. Run independently of the Mains Farm, a pedigree herd of Jersey cows provided milk, butter and cheese to the house. During the war the dairy also supplied milk to the village.

Dairy Cottage

Dairy Cottage

Since the 14th century there has been an estate just west of the village of Avoch. Formerly known as Pittanochtie, the estate was owned by Mackenzies but when James Fletcher bought it in 1864 it was known as Rosehaugh. James made some alterations to the building with assistance of architect, Alexander Ross. Upon James’s death in 1884, his son, James Douglas Fletcher made further alterations with the assistance of architect, William Flockhart, who created a magnificent structure which was unfortunately demolished in 1959. Only some of the estate buildings are left such as the stables shown here which now acts as the estate office for the present owners Broadland Properties Ltd.

James Douglas Fletcher

Painting of James Douglas Fletcher, the son of James Fletcher who inherited Rosehaugh House.

Attribution: Photo is courtesy of Lodge Rosehaugh, Avoch.

Although this mansion stood for only 60 years the estate had always provided employment for the village and the Fletchers in particular did much to improve conditions in Avoch. These pages give a glimpse of this magnificent house. For a much more comprehensive view see the book “Rosehaugh, A House Of Its Time” published by Avoch Heritage Association.

In December 2016 a new edition of the book “Rosehaugh: A House of its Time” was launched on the 20th anniversary of its first edition. Co-written by Hilda Hesling, Magdalene Maclean, Kathleen Macleman and the late John Mills, the book contains new material and photographs and is available from Bassman Books. www.bassmanbooks.co.uk

Click on the link below for more in depth information

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images 
Avoch » Avoch Folk
Alexander MacKenzie by Thomas Lawrence(c.1800)
Alexander MacKenzie by Thomas Lawrence(c.1800)
He was born in Stornoway although his actual date of birth is not known. Alexander Mackenzie was the noted explorer and trader in Canada who gave his name to the Mackenzie River which he discovered in 1789. In April 1812 he married Geddes Mackenzie a 14 year old bride. Geddes along with her twin sister had inherited an estate of Avoch. Alexander and Geddes Mackenzie spent part of the year in London and lived the rest of the time in Avoch. They had three children, a daughter born in 1816 and two sons born in 1818 and 1819. Alexander took an interest in many local activities and improvements. He died near Dunkeld on a return journey in 1820 to Avoch from Edinburgh where he had been seeking medical advice for failing health. He is buried at the old cemetery, Parish Church, Avoch.
James Douglas Fletcher
James Douglas Fletcher
He was the son of James Fletcher, a native of Elgin who made his fortune in Liverpool. J D Fletcher's grandmother, Isobel Fletcher, had married William Jack, in Elgin, and they had six children, one of whom was James Jack. When Isobel Fletcher died in 1855 she had requested in her Will that all her sons should change their surname from Jack to Fletcher, and so James Jack became James Fletcher. By the time J D Fletcher was born, in 1857, the family surname was officially Fletcher. It has never been proved that William Jack had any connection to Avoch, but it is said that the Fletcher family believed this to be true. [Above information courtesy of Jane Patience, Avoch.] Photo is courtesy of Lodge Rosehaugh, Avoch.
Rev David Sutherland
Rev David Sutherland
Page updated on 11 October 2022

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