Following the deaths of the Misses Rigg and Miss Haymes, ownership of Aithernie House (now the Old Manor Hotel) came to George James Lumsden, a linen manufacturer originally from Falkland. Like the previous owners of the house, he was actively involved in local life. For example in August 1913 a garden fete was held in the grounds of Aithernie in aid of local causes. He was also president of the East of Fife Agricultural Society. Soon after purchasing the villa, Lumsden had added a substantial extension to Aithernie (to the right hand side of the original house, see image), designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. Original architect's drawings dated 1906 for the work still exist and the scale of the house is demonstrated by the labels attached to the various rooms - including Billiard Room, Butler's Bedroom and Covered Court as well as separate ancillary storage rooms named specifically as 'Coals', 'Lamps', 'Boots / Knives', 'Brushing', 'Milk' and 'Larder'.
In 1920, Aithernie had new residents, when David Russell (third son of the David Russell who ran the Largo Oil and Cake Mill) and his family moved in, initially on a six-month lease. Early in 1921, the Russell family purchased the seven-bedroom home, with servants' quarters and a tennis lawn, for £7,000. During the 1920s David Russell was the driving force behind the expansion and evolution of the Markinch-based Tullis Russell paper manufacturer (in 1946 he would become Sir David Russell). However the family left Aithernie in 1927, following the unfortunate suicide of the head gardener there (moving to Silverburn, where David's parents had lived). Aithernie would be tenant-less for several years.
In 1937, a new chapter opened in the history of the building when Fife Children's Home was set up at Aithernie by Miss Margaret Paxton of Homelands. The house was rented from David Russell who still owned it. The first of its kind in Scotland, the home provided accommodation for young children whose parents could not look after them. The children who came to live there spent as much time as possible outdoors in the grounds, even often eating meals outside. Miss Paxton's sister Jessie had by this time been running a nursery in Methil for around eighteen months (still named the Paxton Nursery today). The Courier of 3 September 1937 reported that the sisters had "endeared themselves to many, owing to their untiring energy in the cause of children in distressed and overcrowded areas of Fife."
In the next post - Aithernie undergoes a name change and becomes a hotel.
In 1937, a new chapter opened in the history of the building when Fife Children's Home was set up at Aithernie by Miss Margaret Paxton of Homelands. The house was rented from David Russell who still owned it. The first of its kind in Scotland, the home provided accommodation for young children whose parents could not look after them. The children who came to live there spent as much time as possible outdoors in the grounds, even often eating meals outside. Miss Paxton's sister Jessie had by this time been running a nursery in Methil for around eighteen months (still named the Paxton Nursery today). The Courier of 3 September 1937 reported that the sisters had "endeared themselves to many, owing to their untiring energy in the cause of children in distressed and overcrowded areas of Fife."
In the next post - Aithernie undergoes a name change and becomes a hotel.
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