Just occasionally, my professional, academic and recreational interests in traditional music performance and history come together with those of architectural conservation. In this case, very poignantly, although with what seems to be a happy ending in one respect.
I came across this derelict building near Alford, Aberdeenshire, while researching on historic buildings at risk for Historic Scotland and noting that it had been visited by a number of urban explorers. Now, I do not condone the entering of private and often dangerous property but do agree that such action can, at times, be an important way of drawing attention to otherwise unappreciated heritage.
In this case the building was the former, no doubt happy, home of Sir Ewan Forbes, a rural GP highly influential in Scottish Country Dance from the 1930s onwards. As Elizabeth Forbes Sempill, he was noted also as a fine reciter in Doric who recorded for Beltona, a fiddle player and a player of clarsach. Much has been written about him elsewhere (but sadly little about the musical aspects).
I am always troubled to see the interior of homes abandoned on the owner’s passing and subsequent decay, whether by nature or neglect. What is particularly moving here are a couple of music related images such as that above which shows a ruined piano, abandoned Scottish dance music and a Beltona 78 rpm record, probably from the 1930s. There is also a photograph of a record by the famous Tim Wright Band of fiddlers.
I feel it is fine to show this material now as it seems the house is now well loved once more. As always, it is tragic that buildings have to pass through such a state before resurrection, and that they are left containing the fading material memories of the life they once contained. Sad too that no one had thought to record, cherish and archive the fragments while we had the chance.
The above images have been used, without permission, from the following web sites where there is further information.
http://www.urbexforums.com/showthread.php/2991-Brux-Lodge-Aberdeenshire-December-2008
http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=8385#.VPXQdPmx1r8
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8333696/sets/72157608294583778
https://www.facebook.com/AlanGrantGrampianLtd
See: Ewan Forbes, The Dancers of Don, (Aberdeen, 1989). I will be writing on Forbes in another place.