5 Star Boutique B&B, Kingussie, Scotland

The Viewmount was a 5 Star Boutique B&B. Scottish Highlands.

What is research, but a blind date with knowledge? PART 1

What is research, but a blind date with knowledge? PART 1

May 4th, 2021

MOUNT /maʊnt/

noun: mount

a mountain or hill (archaic except in place names) | "Mount Etna"

Middle English: from Old French munter, based on Latin mons, mont- ‘mountain’.

Viewmount, as we see it today, was built in the 1870s - situated on top of a mount offering spectacular views of the Spey Valley, the Cairngorm Mountains and the 18th century Ruthven Barracks.

The title deed references James Evan Bruce Baillie (who may have been the original owner of the land and first owner of Viewmount). On 23 July 1889, he created a feudal charter in favour of Lachlan Andrew Macpherson.

https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/search?q=kingussie

Colonel James Evan Bruce Baillie of Dochfour (here pictured as an 11-year old) was born in Paris in 1859 and passed away on 6 May 1931, Edinburgh Midlothian Scotland, aged 72.Subsequently, around 1893, VIEWMOUNT was purchased by Peter Alexander Cameron Mackenzie. (Robertson, J., 1994. Kingussie and the Caman. Kingussie: Kingussie Camanachd Club.)

Born in Kingussie on 12/08/1856, Peter Mackenzie travelled extensively worldwide on behalf of the Singer Manufacturing Company. Between 1884 and 1886, he made long journeys into the interior of Brazil, where he met his future bride - Donna Anezia Augusta do Amaral. The couple married in London in 1886 and had nine children, the first five being born in Rio de Janeiro.

Elizabeth (Zaza) was born in Kingussie in 1893 (Gynack Villa) and was the longest living child, passing away, aged 82, in Australia in 1975.

His seventh child, a daughter - Mimosa (Mimi) Sybil do Amaral Mackenzie - was born in VIEWMOUNT on 4 January 1894 @ 13:15 with her father present. Subject to confirmation, his son Rioull Cunningham Graeme Mackenzie was also born in VIEWMOUNT in 1897.

The last of his children, Edwin Halbert, was born in Tain on 24 March 1899.

Is this Mimi (Mimosa Sybil)?Perhaps Rioull Cunningham Graeme?Rumour has it that these 2 windows depict 2 of the Counts children - perhaps Mimi and Rioull?

In 1899 the family moved to Tain, where he bought an estate at Tarlogie. Despite his move to Tain, the Count kept his residence at VIEWMOUNT. He made regular visits to his beloved Kingussie. The Count and his wife are seen here with their children - Cecil (1889-1959), Percy (1887-1918), Lionel (1890-1927), Rioull (1897-1946), Elizabeth aka Zsa Zsa (1893-1975), Mimosa aka Mimi (1894-1961) and Edward (1899-1972).

Latest Blog Posts