Location
Saint Drostan's Church Aberdour
New Aberdour, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
Date
1593
Description
A 16th century grave slab relocated to the wall of the ruined St Drostan's
Related Information
There is a curious prophecy about this family from Thomas the Rhymer (the Aberdeenshire version of Thomas the Rhymer is surely a different person than Thomas Learmonth of Erceldoune, 13 cent poet, the one that went to Elfland. The eagles referred to were presumably sea eagles. Ed).
From; Notes on The Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland By Walter Gregor (1881)
"The following is the tradition about the lands of Auchmedden in Aberdour. Thomas the Rhymer's prediction was that--
"As long's there's an eagle in Pennan,
There will be a Baird in Auchmedden."
For long a pair of eagles built their nest in the cliffs near the village of Pennan, and the Bairds protected them with the greatest care, and fed them by placing daily on a ledge of rock near their eirie a quantity of food. William Baird joined Prince Charlie, and was an officer of his bodyguard at Culloden. He continued in hiding for some years, and afterwards took up his abode at Echt House, where he died in 1777. Auchmedden was not confiscated, but Mr. Baird was obliged to sell it in 1750 to relieve himself of the debt he had contracted to support the cause of the Stuarts; it was bought by the Earl of Aberdeen. At that time the eagles left their home. Lord Haddo, eldest son of the Earl of Aberdeen, married Christian Baird of Newbyth. The eagles returned, and continued to build their nest till the estate passed from the Aberdeen family to the Honourable William Gordon. Again the birds disappeared. When the estate came into the hands of Robert Baird, about the year 1855, one eagle took up its abode in the Pennan Rocks, but it soon after disappeared."
Era
1500s
Information Source
Gregor, Walter. Notes on the Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland, Folk-Lore Society. London, 1881.
Related Artefacts
- 17th century grave slab St Drostan's kirk Aberdour
- 18th cent tomb slab St Drostan's Aberdour
- Clyne grave 18th century grave slab St Drostans kirk Aberdour
Categories
Iconography
- heraldic motifs
- star
- wild boar
Photographer
- David Watson Hood
Unavailable Data
- OS Map Reference
- Creator
- External Links
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