Blelack
Encyclopedia
Blelack is a place in Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
, the location of Blelack House, a Scottish mansion house with origins in the seventeenth century.
So goes the apparent curse on the Laird
of Blelack House for instigated on exorcism on the “Fairies” resident in the Seely Howe the location Blelack House, Howe being a hollow or Glen. The “Cold” Hill O’ Fare is near Banchory
some miles further down the Dee valley, Dool is the Doric dialect
term roughly equivalent to Doom. For a couple of centuries the lairds did not seem to enjoy any particular good fortune, seemingly ending up always on the losing side.
Blelack House is situated 30 miles west of Aberdeen
, near the village of Logie Coldstone
, 3 miles north of the River Dee
in the Cromar
, a basin of agricultural land carved out of the Grampian foothills. Blelack is an anglicization of the Gaelic
Baile ailich meaning “village of the stone house”. The prefix “Ble...” is found in the Outer Hebrides
with regard to translations of gaelic place names beginning Baile, in Ireland this would be “Bally...” .
The Royal Deeside area was historically within the Earldom of Mar
, and the Blelack estate belonged to a branch of the powerful Clan Gordon
. In 1620 an “Alexander Gordoune” of Blelack is referred to in “The Records of Aboyne
”, and the location is shown on a Map of 1654. It is difficult to tell if the presence of a stone house here is earlier. Typical of such mansion houses, there is a nearby farm and a mill, both of similar age, and built of the distinctive local pink granite.
There are, confusingly, two dates engraved onto the façade of the building, 1881 and 1892. There is some evidence that the current Blelack House is older, and these are renovation dates. Blelack House was burnt down in retribution after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. The young laird, Charles Gordon, fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie, and was closely associated with several of the rebellion's leaders. The new mansion house was built on the present site in 1753. The building suffered an accidental fire later in 1868 and was rebuilt and remodelled the following year. We can only speculate on the extent of the changes to the house over the centuries; the current building seems to pre-date the Mock Baronial
style of the later nineteenthth century. During the Victorian
era Blelack ceased to be the laird’s seat and was used as a shooting lodge. In WWII pupils from Albyn School
for girls in Aberdeen were evacuated to the house. The building was split up into separate flats in 1976.
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the location of Blelack House, a Scottish mansion house with origins in the seventeenth century.
- Dool Dool to Blelack, and Dool to Blelack’s Heir, for Driving use fae the Seely Howe to the Cauld Hill O’ Fare
So goes the apparent curse on the Laird
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
of Blelack House for instigated on exorcism on the “Fairies” resident in the Seely Howe the location Blelack House, Howe being a hollow or Glen. The “Cold” Hill O’ Fare is near Banchory
Banchory
Banchory is a burgh or town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 18 miles west of Aberdeen, near where the Feugh River meets the River Dee.- Overview :...
some miles further down the Dee valley, Dool is the Doric dialect
Doric dialect
Doric dialect can refer to:*The Doric dialect of Greek*The Doric dialect of Scots...
term roughly equivalent to Doom. For a couple of centuries the lairds did not seem to enjoy any particular good fortune, seemingly ending up always on the losing side.
Blelack House is situated 30 miles west of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, near the village of Logie Coldstone
Logie Coldstone
Logie Coldstone is an Aberdeenshire village north of the River Dee, near Tarland in the Cromar, a basin of land cut out of the Grampian foothills between Aboyne and Ballater.-See also:*Royal Deeside*Blelack...
, 3 miles north of the River Dee
River Dee, Aberdeenshire
The River Dee is a river in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It rises in the Cairngorms and flows through Strathdee to reach the North Sea at Aberdeen...
in the Cromar
Cromar
Cromar is an area in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland thirty miles inland from Aberdeen. It is also known as the Howe of Cromar.Surrounded by a sweep of hills, dominated by Morven 871m , this lower lying area is a mixture of farming, forestry and settlements, principally Tarland and Logie...
, a basin of agricultural land carved out of the Grampian foothills. Blelack is an anglicization of the Gaelic
Goidelic languages
The Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
Baile ailich meaning “village of the stone house”. The prefix “Ble...” is found in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
with regard to translations of gaelic place names beginning Baile, in Ireland this would be “Bally...” .
The Royal Deeside area was historically within the Earldom of Mar
Earl of Mar
The Mormaer or Earl of Mar is a title that has been created seven times, all in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation of the earldom was originally the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland...
, and the Blelack estate belonged to a branch of the powerful Clan Gordon
Clan Gordon
Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a Scottish clan. The chief of the clan was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.-Origins:...
. In 1620 an “Alexander Gordoune” of Blelack is referred to in “The Records of Aboyne
Aboyne
Aboyne is a village on the edge of the Highlands in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the River Dee, approximately west of Aberdeen. It has a rugby club, which plays on The Green and also has a swimming pool, a golf course with 18 holes, all-weather tennis courts, and a bowling green...
”, and the location is shown on a Map of 1654. It is difficult to tell if the presence of a stone house here is earlier. Typical of such mansion houses, there is a nearby farm and a mill, both of similar age, and built of the distinctive local pink granite.
There are, confusingly, two dates engraved onto the façade of the building, 1881 and 1892. There is some evidence that the current Blelack House is older, and these are renovation dates. Blelack House was burnt down in retribution after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. The young laird, Charles Gordon, fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie, and was closely associated with several of the rebellion's leaders. The new mansion house was built on the present site in 1753. The building suffered an accidental fire later in 1868 and was rebuilt and remodelled the following year. We can only speculate on the extent of the changes to the house over the centuries; the current building seems to pre-date the Mock Baronial
Mock Baronial
The Mock Baronial style of architecture was one typical of Scottish stately homes of the Victorian era and the turn of the twentieth century. Typical features included castle-like "mock" turrets and ramparts, giving the owners the feeling of owning a castle....
style of the later nineteenthth century. During the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
era Blelack ceased to be the laird’s seat and was used as a shooting lodge. In WWII pupils from Albyn School
Albyn School
The Albyn School is a private, independent educational establishment, founded in 1867 in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is located on Queens Road and Forest Road. Albyn was originally an all-girls school before becoming co-educational in 2005...
for girls in Aberdeen were evacuated to the house. The building was split up into separate flats in 1976.