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Kirriemuir - Caddam Wood

Caddam Wood - June 1957

This is the Caddam Wood in Kirriemuir - Caddam Wood, the wood mentioned in Sir J. M. Barrie's novel The Little Minister.  The lass in the photo is walking along the old Roman Road which is now a path through Caddam Wood. It connects with another track called the "Fisher Road".  A gate of Lord Lyall's Estate (Kinnordy) faces Caddam Wood. The blacksmith's home is behind the wood. Some woodsmen who once worked in Caddam Wood were:

• John McGregor
  born: June 2, 1823 in Kirriemuir
  deceased: unknown
  wife: Elizabeth Duke
  children: Ann, Alexander, Jane, James
  John McGregor was also a blacksmith
   
• David McGregor
  born: 1835 in Kirriemuir
  deceased: 1905
  wife: Ann Mclean (identified in an early Kirriemuir souvenir postcard as The Last of the Handloom Weavers)
  children: David, Susan, James (James served in the Boer War and later emigrated to America.)

Then wa'ak along the Roman Road
Sich chairms o' beauty lend
The birks an' chestnuts they abode
A' roond the Cassie End.

It was in this wood where the minister, Gavin Dishart, met the gipsy girl during his walks.  The mystery of woods by moonlight thrilled the little minister. His eyes rested on the shining roots, and he remembered what had been told him of the legend of Caddam, how once on a time it was a mighty wood, and a maiden most beautiful stood on its confines, panting and afraid, for a wicked man pursued her; how he drew near, and she ran a little way into the wood, and he followed her, and she still ran, and still he followed, until both were for ever lost, and the bones of her pursuer lie beneath a beech, but the lady may still be heard singing in the woods if the night be fine, for then she is a glad spirit, but weeping when there is wild wind, for then she is but a mortal seeking a way out of the wood.
- from The Little Minister

Caddam Wood - Early 1900s

This is a view of Caddam Wood (right) and the Grampian Mountains (left) as seen from the main road inside the Kinnordy estate.  (Note the stone gateposts and dike.)  The old smithy is to the right on the road outside of and to the right of the estate.

This watercolor, according to The Capital Scot's family lore was painted by a lady in waiting to the Queen Mother.  The date would indicate the Queen Mother as either Alexandra (mother of George V) or Mary (mother of Edward VII and George VI).

Caddam Wood - 1977

This was The Capital Scot's attempt to take a photograph, resembling the watercolor, from memory.  The camera is pointed somewhat to the right from the view shown in the watercolor.

Caddam Wood - 1977

This a view of the road between Caddam Wood and Kinnordy.

Caddam Wood - 1930s (?)

This is a team of horses such as would have been used for work in and near Caddam Wood.

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