Ord Cottage
Attribution: unknown or not recorded
Ord Cottage
Originally, built as an Episcopal church around 1717 around the time of Alexander Mackenzie, 4th of Ord who would have most probably financed the build. It may even have been built in remembrance of his father Thomas Mackenzie, who had died in 1710.
The building was eventually converted into a dwelling house in 1836 when a new Episcopal church was built at Highfield.
The building was described as being single storey with 6 wide bays but may originally have been 5 bays. The centre door had a south elevation, flanking round headed windows and symmetrical stacks with the 6th bay being added to the East, with a square headed window. There was a semi-circular projecting porch with round heads to window and side entrance and a shallow lead roof. Lying pane glazing (traditional horizontal glass panes in a sash window), was visible in the early round headed windows with various glazing patterns elsewhere. The roof was slate with ridge and end stacks.
There were two wings added to the rear along with other modern alterations over the years.
At the time of its conversion in 1836, it appears to have remained in the possession of the Mackenzie of Ord’s and may have even been converted as a Dower house as rumour has it, it was used as this in the past.
The birth of three Mackenzie children at the Cottage in 1859, 1861 and 1862 also supports the MacKenzie ownership/occupancy.
The children of Alexander Watson Mackenzie, 8th of Ord and Angel Babington-Peile were to be amongst the last generation of Mackenzie’s to live at Ord House.
The next chapter of the story can be found in the 1891 census, with Duncan MacKay a traction engine proprietor, living with his mother and sister. He was married at Old Machar, Aberdeen in 1892 to Catherine McKay from Kiltearn.
Various documents between 1891 and 1914 have Duncan recorded as a Traction Engine Owner, however by the 1901 census records his occupation as a threshing mill owner which could possibly indicate that his machine was transportable to the various farms in the area.
Duncan belonged to the Free Church and a news report in 1904, indicates that he was amongst the Free Church congregation who negotiated with the United Free Church Session Clerk, to gain access to the Free church following the death of Rev Beaton. The United Free Session Clerk could not authorise the handing over of the keys, so the Free church congregation took matters in hand and barricaded themselves into the church.
Duncan died in 1914 at an Inverness Nursing home. His home address was still recorded as Ord Cottage. Catherine moved to Drynie Park.
The following year the tenant of Ord Cottage was the estate Factor, David Stuart who by that time was working for Beatrice Anna Fraser Mackenzie of Allangrange. Beatrice’s older brother was the heir to Ord estate and was currently serving with the British Army at that time.
The 1921 census shows a Hugh C, Noble now living at the property. Again, he was the factor for the Ord estate and at that time his housekeeper was recorded as a Miss Isabel M. Fortune. Miss Fortune was the spinster daughter of Robert Fortune, a gamekeeper at Belmaduthy, KNockbain. She continued to live at the cottage until her death in 1935 and the Gordon family moved to live there.
Adam Anderson Gordon originated in Golspie, as did his wife Annie Cameron. They had married in Glasgow in 1916, when Adam was serving as a Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders. Together they had 3 children, Catherine, John and Adam. Adam senior worked as a travelling salesman and the family had lived in Edinburgh for the previous decade where their youngest child had been born in 1920. An advert placed in the Press & Journal in 1935, on behalf of Silcock & Sons Ltd, showed a change of address for the family to Ord Cottage, Muir of Ord.
During WW2, John and Adam both served with the Royal Air Force. John was a signalman and spent some time in Malaya before being captured by the Japanese. He spent three years as a prisoner of war, before being repatriated I 1945. In 1945 Adam was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for courage and devotion to duty in numerous operations against the enemy.
John married Betty MacEwan of Highfield and owned the music shop ‘Record Rendezvous’ in Inverness. His sister Catherine owned a hairdresser shop on Union Street, Inverness.
Follow the link below for photographs of the Gordon family.
In 1959, Ord Cottage was mostly destroyed by fire when the thatched and corrugated iron kitchen roof caught fire. The fire was accidentally caused by a blow lamp being used by a plumber. The Inverness & Dingwall fire tenders arrived and managed to save 2 wings of the house, comprising of four rooms. The report suggest that the property had not long been bought by a major Adam Gordon, the youngest son of Huntly D. Gordon, Sherriff of Dingwall. Both names are coincidental, as there appears to be no connection between Adam Anderson Gordon and the Major.
By 1961, the cottage had been rebuilt and was back up for sale. A further sale in 1988 lists the property as being a category ‘C’ listed building
The current owner has provided information on the life of the cottage since the 1960’s. when it was bought by a previous relation who was a music teacher. It was sold to the Leslie’s in 1988 who used the property as a holiday cottage until they retired from Edinburgh. They remained there until the early 200’s when the house was sold to an ironmonger who added a large garage. bedroom annexe and rear porch. The current owners have lived there since 2020.