James Aitken of Darroch papers

Primary maker
1. James Aitken of Darroch
2. Trustees of James Aitken of Darroch Trust
Production date
1865-1870
1860s-1910
1859-1892
 Description
Memorandum book with copies of press advertisements; Particulars of Estates; James Aitken's certificate of birth; His commissions; Alterations to Darroch; Office workbook; Insurance policies; bore journals; Correspondence, Invoices, vouchers, leases.
Titles, plans and papers relating to Merchistonhall & Mungal estates. Also tracings of plans for football ground pavilion; Merchistonhall Chartulary (including progress of writs from 1712)

Object detail

Department
Archives Collections
Administrative History
James (3) Aitken of Darroch (1834-1911), writer and solicitor in Falkirk, was the son of Henry Aitken of Darroch and the grandson of James (1) Aitken of the firm of solicitors in Falkirk which began in Kings Court 1797. He succeeded his father, Henry (2) Aitken, as proprietor of Darroch and as a partner in Russel & Aitken from 1862-1911. He was a wealthy man by succession and by his own endeavours in the law and as a mineral proprietor and farmer. He owned property and minerals in the following lands: Whitehill, Tappetknowe, Hollings, Blairs Farm in Glenbervie, Carronflatt in Grangemouth, Saltcoats farm in Grangemouth, Inches Quarry, Greenfield in Carnwarth, Arnotdale and Blacksteel Park and the Merchiston and Mungal estates.

For the last few decades the subjects in Merchiston and Mungal estates or a good part of them have been owned by the Steel family. Subjects were important for sewage and water supply for Falkirk. They were also close to the Canal and Carron and other foundries. In 1815, Joseph Stainton of Biggarshiels (Manager for Carron Co) bought the superiority of Merchiston Hall from the Trustees of the late Captain Charles Napier Trust. A year later Stainton bought the superiority of four of the five farms on the Nether Mungal part of that Estate: Langdale, Broomyknow, Lethandy and Mungall Mill and the superiority of many of the feus of the private houses in Main St, Bainsford. In 1889, James Aitken of Darroch acquired the superiority of Merchiston Hall and its grounds plus parts of Mungal Estate which Joseph Stainton of Biggarshiels had owned.

James Aitken's main leisure interest was shooting and one of his habits was to apply for particulars of shootings and estates to let all over Scotland. He also belonged to Stirling Golf club and East Stirlingshire Cricket Club. He was also a Lieutenant in the Falkirk Company of the Stirlingshire Volunteer Rifle Corps.
Record level
Sub-sub-collection
Collection
Aitken, James, of Darroch/Aitken Family papers/Russel & Aitken/Business Group
Primary maker
Production date
1865-1870
1860s-1910
1859-1892
Measurements
64 items
Archives finding aids
This catalogue entry provides a summary of a sub-collection of the Russel & Aitken Collection. Please use the search tools on the Collections Browser to look for information about individual items in this collection.

Catalogues for clients of Russel & Aitken are being added regularly to our website. http://www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org/heritage/archives/finding-aids/russel-aitken.aspx
Restriction
Open - no restriction on access
Accession number
A1807/S3

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