CRAIGDARROGH.

Shannon News, 21 August 1923, Page 4

CRAIGDARROGH.

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, Craigdarroch, th'e home of William Ferguson, who married Annie, Laurie, of ballad fame, is to be sold' by auction. Mrs. Ferguson survived her husband, and the present.. mansion house of Craigdarroch /was largely built under her direction. A relic of her taste is still preserved in the Georgian Garden at the roar of the house. She died in 17«1 at the ago of 79, and was buried in the.old graveyard at Craigdarroch.

The estate is known to have been in the hands of the Fergusons since 1398, when Jotikyrc Ferguson, of Craigdarroch, was confined in the lands of Jarbnich and Mill of Balmaiknne. He is said to have been a noted freebootor, aided by his twelve sons, and to have been captured while shooting at the Buttand Ingloston further down the valley.

At Craigdarroch has been carefully treasured for more than a century, "The Whistle," a contest for which inspired Robert Burn's ballad of the name. It is matle of ti light-coloured wood, and was brought to Scotland by a Dame of gigantic stature and a champion of Bacchus who came in the train of Queen Anne of Denmark. At the commencement of his orgies he laid the ■ whistle on the table, and, whoever was last to. blow it. was to carry it off as the trophy of victory.

The Dane at last met moro than his match in one of the Laurics of Maxwelltown, who, after three days' and nights' hard contest left the Scandinavian under the table.