Druidsmere
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- Date:
- 1895
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Druidsmere
Druidsmere, which dates from 1895, is set in 31 acres of gardens and woodlands and even has its own loch. In addition to the mansion house there are four cottages within the grounds: The Lodge (seen from Perth Road), Stables Cottage, Gardener’s Cottage and the School House (formerly known as the Engine House).
Druidsmere was designed by the renowned Perthshire architect Andrew Heiton (1823 – 1894) and built for Isaac Henry Anderson, a Blairgowrie solicitor. The architecture of Druidsmere shows the skill of local builders, but did they receive payment for their work?
By 1904 Mr Anderson was bankrupt. There followed a failed suicide attempt, and a bankruptcy court case which Mr Henry Anderson failed to attend. A warrant was issued for his arrest. All of this resulted in the following newspaper headlines:
Dundee Evening Post – Friday 29 July 1904.
STARTLING AFFAIR AT BLAIRGOWRIE. LOCAL SOLICITOR SHOT
Dundee Courier – Wednesday 14 September 1904.
PERTHSHIRE SOLICITOR ABSCONDS FAILS TO FACE BANKRUPTCY EXAMINATION WARRANT GRANTED TO APPREHEND
In November 1904 this article appeared in the Dundee Evening Telegraph:
‘Displenishing sales have a wonderful attraction, especially those of men who have figured largely in public life. The Druidsmere two days’ sale drew an immense crowd’.
The whereabouts of Mr Isaac Henry Anderson remained a mystery until 1907 when this newspaper report appeared:
Dundee Evening Telegraph – Thursday 03 October 1907
NOTED BLAIRGOWRIE MAN DIES ABROAD
‘News has just come to hand of the death at Montreal of Mr Isaac Henry Anderson,S.S.C., formerly Blairgowrie, at the age of 55. Mr Henry Anderson was at one time agent of the Commercial Bank at Blairgowrie, besides being head of the firm of Anderson, Chapman & Co., solicitors. He retired from the bank agency on going to reside at Druidsmere, handsome mansion he built overlooking the White Loch. He continued his law business until about four years ago, when, finding himself in financial difficulties, he left the country. Since then little or nothing has been heard of him. He was for many years chairman of the Parochial Board and Parish Council, and was also chairman of the School Board and clerk of the Road Trustees and Eastern District Committee of the County Council. He held various other public offices. He leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters’.
Since 1904 Druidsmere has continued to be a family home and has changed hands on only very few occasions. However, it was advertised for sale towards the end of 2022 for offers over £1.5 million. What does the future hold for Druidsmere?