The Prime Minister's Scottish Home.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXII, Issue 1990, 23 February 1906, Page 2

The Prime Minister's Scottish Home.

To (he student of literature the Seoitish home of the new Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannorman, should possess more than ordinary interest on iaecQUnt of its legendary lore and historical associations. Belmont Cattle and estate, which became the property of Sir Henry about 20 years ago, are situated close to the pretty little lVrth shire village of Meigle, in the beautiful and fruitful vale of Strathmore, The oldest of the legends refers to England and the Arthurian eidolon, ytieen Uttinivere, according to tradition, was a native, or was in some way connected with the district, ami the story goes Mat after her misconduct, which involved either Sir J.ariee lot or Modred, a heathen king, she returned to the quarter to live in a aunnery a life of penance and repentance. This penitential story is dealt with by Tennyson, and local tradition allirms t.iat she was put in captivity on Barry iiill, in the vicinity, and (here lorn to pieces by wild beasts. Antiquarians allirm that she was buried in .Meigle, judging by an ancient quaintly carved memorial stone, still preserved in the village, though seoflers ridicule the idea by asserting that the sculpture is nothing but a representation of Daniel in the lion's) den. Then, again, within the grounds and not far from the house, there is a large mound which is named Belli■lull', and is said to be the spot, upon which Macdult' slew Macbeth. In support of this then; is still in existence a map drawn up 153 years ago, on which the mound is represented wit'i the words, "Here Macduli slew Macbeth." This, at any rate, shows that the legend is no mere figment of the modern brain, but is of quite respectable antiquity." Shakespeare, it is true, killed oil Macbeth at Dunsinane, hut that may have either been due to carelessness or a striving after dramatic effect. In any case, verisimilitude is given the story by the coincident tradition that it was in Kirkhill Castle—as Belmont was originally called -that Isabella, the daughter of Macduff, was kept, in captivity and starved to death, her sufferings being so great before she died that slv gnawed the flesh from her lingers. It is also allirmed that a large boulder stone, also located in Belmont, marks the spot where young Osbert, son of Siward, who was associated with Macbeth in the sustained conlli » with Uacdul)'. fell and was buried, in proof of which it is stated that a largo stone colltn was once found under the boulder.

But apart from the shadowy, Belmont is a charming demesne. It for main' generations was the properly of Ihe MackenzieWhurnclili'es, the first of whom was the Hon. James Mackenzie, who was Lord Privy Seal about the middle of the eie;htcent i century. The castle was burned down about 20 years ago, and when the estate was purchased by Sir Henry for .CW.OOO, tin' caslle was re-built in consonance with his views of what a modern mansion-house should be.