Visitors to the Dowans...

In our last blog, there was a sense of increasing fascination at the historical significance of our new home and business and yet, that fascination became somewhat unbridled when we received two passing visitors, both of whom had spent their first years in life as orphans within these walls that we now occupy and which have become part of our future. In that sense, both their and our attachment to this building could be seen as partially intertwined in its offer of a significantly varied future to the one that would have existed without it.

The nursery wing of the Aberlour orphanage which was founded in 1875 for 'mitherless bairns' under the ethical sponsorship of Canon Jupp, was opened in 1953 by Princess Margaret, its namesake, and remained open until the closing of the main orphanage in 1967. At any one time, the house had around 26 orphans under the age of 5 who were looked after by a combination of teachers and helpers. The existence of the orphanage and the significant number of children who passed through its doors was partially as a result of the economic situation in which the UK and its residents found themselves, in a period at the end of the 19th century that was classified by large increases in population levels with poverty as a direct result. Although not affected by these same exact circumstances, David and Billy who we met, both found themselves joining those others that had required the assistance of the orphanage at a time of considerable necessity.

Their stories which they willingly shared with us reflect a heart-aching personal history that exists solely because of a predicament that was largely out-with their control. For us, their stories brought us a little closer to the realisation that our lives have collectively become part of a rich history that, although steeped in elements of abandonment and pain, is full of people that are thriving regardless of what they faced early in their lives.

Thus, we are somewhat responsible for their stories and those of others that have, at some time or another, called this space 'home'. Often referred to as 'forgotten children', we know that they are people that we will not soon forget nor ignore the history of.

We look forward to the publication of Professor David Divine's 'Aberlour Narratives of Success' this summer and the following collection of stories that he is currently collecting in respect of those orphans that once lived in Aberlour.