Hi all, I'm new to this list and am hoping someone can help me. I have recently discovered my very elusive g-gfather, John Ronald McKenzie (b 1st Sept 1859 in Fodderty Ross & Cromarty) on the 1881 Census. He is entered as a 22 year old undergardener at the Gardens (Bothy) at Floors Castle. My questions are these...and forgive my ignorance on the first...just what is a Bothy? Secondly, are there any records of Floors Castle available which may help me find out more about John McKenzie? Up until this discovery all I knew of him was that he was born in Fodderty and married in 1884 in Greenock East, Renfrewshire. Look forward to being enlightened. Val in a very cool & windy Brisbane.

Good Morning Val As I grew up in a Bothy I do have some info for you on what it is. Webster's Dictionary describes it as " a rude hut or barrack for unmarried farm servants or for labourers in the same employ" and that is what our home originally was built as (although I would not classify it as 'rude'!) It was located on a large estate in southern Scotland, and had originally housed up to 8 garden labourers who worked on the estate gardens. These men were usually single, each had their own room and were looked after by a lady (cook/housekeeper) who had a small 2-room flat adjoining our house. By the time we came to live there (1952), the "good old days" of plentiful cheap labour were over and the house was used just for our family. However, it was an unusual design (as you can imagine) and quite impressive. It had central heating (a luxury in the UK at the time that it was built (~ 1860s)) and was our home for many a year. I haven't looked for genealogically-related records for Floors but the Castle is a huge affair, and home of the Duke of Roxburough (although rather dismal inside -- it is open to the public). My cousins lived across the river on the Springwood Estate just outside Kelso and I was often in the vicinity. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL countryside and worth a visit if you have never been there Good luck in your searching Jim Arnott In Dull, Cool and Showery Victoria, Vancouver Island val mansell wrote: > > Hi all, > I'm new to this list and am hoping someone can help me. I have recently > discovered my very elusive g-gfather, John Ronald McKenzie (b 1st Sept > 1859 in Fodderty Ross & Cromarty) on the 1881 Census. He is entered as a > 22 year old undergardener at the Gardens (Bothy) at Floors Castle. > My questions are these...and forgive my ignorance on the first...just > what is a Bothy? Secondly, are there any records of Floors Castle > available which may help me find out more about John McKenzie? Up until > this discovery all I knew of him was that he was born in Fodderty and > married in 1884 in Greenock East, Renfrewshire. > Look forward to being enlightened. > Val > in a very cool & windy Brisbane.