Cathkin House

Did Walter Ewing Maclae ever imagine, as he surveyed the construction of Cathkin House in 1799, the myriad lives and stories that would unfold within its walls? Cathkin House, designed by James Ramsay, stands as a silent witness to centuries of Glasgow’s history. Built for Maclae, a wealthy figure in the West India trade, the house’s very foundations were intertwined with the grim realities of slavery. Maclae and his family owned plantations in Jamaica and held hundreds of enslaved people whose labor contributed to the family’s fortune. This wealth allowed Maclae to commission the elegant Cathkin House, a tangible symbol of his prosperity. The 1841 census reveals Humphrey Ewing Maclae, Walter’s son, residing in Cathkin House with his wife, Jane, and their servants. Interestingly, Humphrey’s cousin was Reverend Dr. Ralph Wardlaw, a prominent anti-slavery campaigner. This familial connection adds a layer of complexity to the narrative of Cathkin House, highlighting the conflicting social currents of the time. Over the years, Cathkin House welcomed a diverse cast of characters. The Kufeke family, German flour merchants, graced its halls in 1881, even hosting Archbishop Charles Eyre of Glasgow. Later, the Guthrie family, steeped in legal and financial professions, called Cathkin House home. By the turn of the 20th century, the Findlay family, headed by East India merchant Robert Findlay, took up residence. They employed a large staff, including an Indian governess and a Swiss sewing maid, reflecting the global connections of the era. The Train family, prominent building contractors, became the next owners of Cathkin House. They renovated the house and even quarried stone from the estate, which was used in the construction of notable buildings across Glasgow. The landscape surrounding Cathkin House bore witness to their endeavors, as quarries and farmlands reshaped the terrain. In a strange twist of fate, a young boy, the gardener’s son, stumbled upon a hidden cache of money on the estate grounds in 1923. The decaying briefcase, filled with treasury notes, added an unexpected chapter to Cathkin House’s story. In 1955, Cathkin House embarked on a new phase of its existence, becoming the first Scottish home of the National Children’s Home. The grand mansion, once a symbol of private wealth, was transformed into a haven for children in need. Cathkin House stands today as a testament to Glasgow’s ever-evolving story. From its origins linked to the dark legacy of slavery to its role as a children’s home, the house has absorbed the joys and sorrows of generations past.