Colin McTaggart was born in Argyll in 1829 and spent his youth at Creggan Farm before becoming an apprentice gardener at Rossdhu House, Luss. This was the mansion house of the Colquhouns and is now club house to Loch Lomond Golf Club. The master gardener there back in the 1850s was Donald Lindsay. Colin must have learned his trade well over the following years, as by 1861 he was 'Master Gardener employing 3 men and 1 woman' at Largo House. Previous Largo House gardener, Thomas Blair, had left to take up a position in Kingston, Surrey, late in 1854, so Colin probably arrived around that time. Proprietor of Largo House and estate during this era was Lilas Dundas Calderwood Durham.
Over the years at Largo House, McTaggart was a regular prizewinner at local horticultural shows and fetes - see examples below from the Fife Herald. During this period there were also regular excursion parties visiting the 'gardens and pleasure grounds' at Largo House. One group numbered 520 when they visited in June 1864. Meanwhile, in 1862, McTaggart married domestic servant Jessie Boyle. However, their union ended in tragedy two years later when their newborn baby daughter died at a few hours old, followed a few days later Jessie herself. Further below is their gravestone at Upper Largo cemetery.
Over the years at Largo House, McTaggart was a regular prizewinner at local horticultural shows and fetes - see examples below from the Fife Herald. During this period there were also regular excursion parties visiting the 'gardens and pleasure grounds' at Largo House. One group numbered 520 when they visited in June 1864. Meanwhile, in 1862, McTaggart married domestic servant Jessie Boyle. However, their union ended in tragedy two years later when their newborn baby daughter died at a few hours old, followed a few days later Jessie herself. Further below is their gravestone at Upper Largo cemetery.
Colin remained at Largo House for a few years after the death of his wife and child and was involved in the creation of Lundin Golf Club in 1868 with Frederick Lumsden and others. But in 1868 Lilias Dundas Calderwood Durham sold the Largo estate and moved to Polton House, near Edinburgh. Colin McTaggart moved to the position of gardener at Arniston House, near the village of Temple in Midlothian, which was owned by Mrs Durham's eldest son Robert Dundas. By 1871 Colin had become remarried - to Margaret Tod. In 1881 they were living in the gardener's house at Arniston with their three children. Ten years later Colin was still still there working as a gardener at the age of 72.
At some stage the McTaggarts moved to Lenzie and it was there that Colin died in 1912 aged 83 and his wife Margaret died in 1919. They were buried in Temple village burial ground, back near Arniston, where they had buried a daughter in 1888.
Arniston House was not dissimilar in age and in style to Largo House (see image below) but, unlike Largo House, it has survived intact to this day. Having undergone recent renovations, the house can be visited by the public and some buildings within the grounds (including the gardener's cottage) can be rented as holidays cottages. The interior of Arniston provides an insight to what the inside of Largo House may have been like in its heyday.
Further information about Arniston House:
grovesraines.com/projects/conservation/arniston-house-i57n
https://www.arniston-house.co.uk/
At some stage the McTaggarts moved to Lenzie and it was there that Colin died in 1912 aged 83 and his wife Margaret died in 1919. They were buried in Temple village burial ground, back near Arniston, where they had buried a daughter in 1888.
Arniston House was not dissimilar in age and in style to Largo House (see image below) but, unlike Largo House, it has survived intact to this day. Having undergone recent renovations, the house can be visited by the public and some buildings within the grounds (including the gardener's cottage) can be rented as holidays cottages. The interior of Arniston provides an insight to what the inside of Largo House may have been like in its heyday.
Further information about Arniston House:
grovesraines.com/projects/conservation/arniston-house-i57n
https://www.arniston-house.co.uk/
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