This film visits the ruin of Knowsie House, Lonmay, in North East Scotland. The visit just happened to be on the 13th October 2013, a day that a Finnish Group of academics designated as “Failure Day”.
The place of living and losing we occupy:
To play the film please click here or on the above image.
I visited Knowsie House ruin after hearing about it from a dear friend. My friend’s father had visited Knowsie often as a child, when the house was splendid and its park equally so. The boy, Bill Harrowes, used to get on a train from Glasgow and travel to Aberdeen and then change trains for Lonmay. The Lonmay station is not far from Knowsie and Bill Harrowes would walk up the tree-lined drive to Knowsie to visit his grandfather.
Bill Harrowes later studied medicine and was the last doctor at Mavisbank, outside Edinburgh.
Knowsie House was bought by William MacConnachie (1848-1932) in 1898. MacConnachie started in business in 1870 as shipbrokers and herring merchants, on Quarry Road, Fraserburgh, which grew to be one of the largest herring exporters in Scotland. He subsequently became Provost of Fraserburgh. William MacConnachie was noted for his “frank, gentlemanly, and kindly manner” and was “loved by his community” because he was “ready to hear the story of every afflicted citizen”
This film explores passing time from a child who has grown old and revisits a place that he loved.
All the words in this film come from the memoir “Leaving Alexandria” by Richard Holloway. This is a wonderful book that focuses on Holloway’s uncertainty, recognition of failings and his need to be as honest as he can be about such.
It is a book – in fact the only book I have ever read – that has made me cry twice.
when i was a kid i lived in the house at the bottom of the avenue on the Fraserborough Aberdeen road, i walked with my older brother to Rathen school every school day. on the week ends i spent my days roaming through Knowsie house, the gardens and the surrounding woods, knowsie house was in much better condition then, it is a shame that it has gone to ruin, it would have made a lovely hotel. I am nearly 90 years old now and think what a shame to let the house go to ruin.
Dear John,
How kind of you to get in touch and to share your memories of Knowsie House. It must have been a wonderful place in its prime.
My friend’s father, Dr Bill Harrowes, spent his childhood in Knowsie House.
Thanks again John for getting in touch.
Aye Peter
Used to play there as a kid when there was a big green and rough track through it.
Sadly the whole area has been abandoned and house is fenced off.