: Comments on Queensberry House

02 January 2005:
Queensbury House was purchased by my 3 x great grandfather William Aitchison in 1801 from the Queensbury Family for #1,270. It had a sitting tenant: Sir James Montgomery, who died shortly afterwards. To my horror, my grandfather also asset stripped the property selling the architectural features to, among others, the Duke of Wemyss, fireplaces and panelling. He sold it to HM Principle Secretary of War in 1803 for #3,150. Later, when it became a hospital, my 2 x great grandfather George Aitchison was a Dirctor. William was running the St Clement Wells Distillery which returned a revenue to the Government of over #5k per year - it later was run by his sons William and James. George was a shipping magnate and a wine merchant in Leith. William later purchased Drummore House which had over 500 acres of land including Wallyford. Again he sold to the Duke of Wemyss, this time the foreshore but retaining the right to any beached whales.
- Helen Mound (helenemound@aol.com), Tenbury Wells, England