Scottish Philanthropy Snippet – The Buchanan Sisters
The Buchanan Sisters
Thanks to David Joyce, who provided an updated version of this Scottish Philanthropy Snippet in October 2024, based on his research into the history of Bellfield. His work is published under the title “Bellfield House the surprising story of a half-forgotten Kilmarnock icon and its connection with Glasgow and the colonies”, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Background: Margaret (1793–1864), Jane (1796–1867), and Elizabeth Buchanan (1803–1875) – latterly known as the Misses Buchanan of Bellfield – were born to George Buchanan, a merchant in the cotton trade in Glasgow and Jean Miller, who inherited the Woodlands estate there after the untimely death of her brother James.
The family lived in Woodlands from around 1813 until the sisters, all unmarried, moved to Bellfield House, in Riccarton parish, just outside Kilmarnock thirty years later, their father having died in February 1840. The sisters and their elder brother James inherited the estates of brother George jun. (d.1829) and their father, in both cases divided equally between the siblings. James died in 1857, but gave his money away to various charities, both before his death and in his will – his sisters got only household effects, paintings, books, etc. James Buchanan was one of a group of Glasgow merchants with Free Church affiliations who set up and funded the construction of Glasgow Academy. If the sisters have become known as philanthropists, their brother James was, if anything, more charitable, and an example to them, but his charitable activities have been forgotten. [01]
Philanthropy: The sisters extended the Bellfield estate, upgraded the main farm and a water-driven corn mill and established a small colliery near Hurlford station. In 1861 they had a joint will drawn up which listed a number of charities that were to benefit on the death of the last surviving sister. They died in order of seniority, the youngest, Elizabeth in 1875, having previously drawn up a Codicil which changed only minor points of the will. She caused her money to be invested for a 10-year period, after which a permanent trust was to be set up. To ensure it was properly run, it was to obtain a royal charter. This was done in 1888 under the name The Royal Incorporation of the Buchanan Bequest, which is still active, and is now also a charity. Its main activity was the running of the estate and investing in property so that each year the surplus could be given to six local Church of Scotland ministers, who were also Trustees, for distribution to the needy – this annual donation still takes place. The other Trustees were six Councillors and the Provost.
The sisters provided land for a new cemetery in 1861 when the old one at Riccarton kirk became full. Their trust later feued land for a fever hospital, later a sanatorium, which today is used as a care home. Their will provided annual donations to Kilmarnock infirmary and the local ‘Ragged School’. Money was to be given each year for flannel for the poor of Riccarton parish, a donation which the Kilmarnock Standard described as “… according to Miss Buchanan’s benevolent custom”, indicating that it was a donation of long standing. House and estate were opened to the public. £10,000 went to the Merchants House in Glasgow to ensure upkeep of their mausoleum in the Necropolis; £4,200 went to Glasgow University to fund bursaries for the maintenance of two matriculated students who intended to become licentiates of the Church of Scotland; and money from the sale of property in Glasgow went to the Buchanan Society, also a charitable organisation.
They had set aside £30,000 when their will was drawn up, to provide for the largest single project, a care home for old men to be set up in or near Glasgow, to be called The Buchanan Retreat. This building in Bearsden was opened by the Lord Provost of Glasgow on 6th December 1892, by which time the money invested since 1861 had grown so as to leave £40,789 2s 1d as an endowment to run the Retreat, after construction and fitting-out costs had been paid. It seems to have been the experience of caring for their father in his old age which lay behind this large donation. The Retreat lasted until 1960, when it was closed. The refurbished building was opened on 31st May 1962 by Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon as the new Bearsden Municipal Offices. It operated as the Town Hall until 1975 when after a further renovation it housed the Administration and Finance departments of the newly created Bearsden and Milngavie District Council. In 2016, after another refurbishment, it reopened as a boutique hotel.
Mausoleum: The Buchanan sisters’ mausoleum in the Necropolis, overlooking Glasgow Cathedral, slowly deteriorated, the Merchants House appearing to have neglected its duty of care and upkeep for 139 years: by the 21st century, the mausoleum’s roof had fallen in, engravings had faded, and sides of the building crumbled. . Following a successful fundraising campaign by the Friends of the Glasgow Necropolis, £20,000 was eventually raised to repair the tomb, the works being awarded a My Place Award from the Scottish Historic Council.
Surprisingly, there does not appear to be a single memorial to these capable, far-sighted and benevolent ladies in Kilmarnock, which benefitted so much from their Bequest. The Retreat functioned for nearly 70 years, Bellfield House lasted 95 years after the death of Elizabeth, but the donation to Glasgow University for the Buchanan (Bellfield) Bursaries was still in healthy surplus when it was incorporated into a single Entrance Bursaries’ Endowment Fund in 1978. So, their donation continues to form part of the general fund to this day. Similarly, a yearly Christmas donation is still being given for good causes in Kilmarnock, and a new primary school has recently been built on the estate. Thus, nearly 150 years after the death of the youngest sister, their benevolent inclinations are still being felt.
[01] Not to be confused with James Buchanan, ‘The Forgotten Philanthropist’, of the Buchanan Institute in Glasgow Green – both born in 1785, both died in December 1857, both with early links to the Stockwell
David Joyce can be contacted at joyce241[a]planet.nl
Photos
Bellfield House – Image retrieved from http://www.ayrshirehistory.com/kilmarnock/kilmarnock_bellfield_house.jpg
Elizabeth Buchanan – Image retrieved from http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/arts-crafts/arts/art-collections/the-dick-institute-collection/elizabeth-buchanan,-(1794-1875).aspx
Jane Buchanan – Image retrieved from https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/jane-buchanan-207692
Mausoleum – Image retrieved from http://www.myplaceawards.org.uk/imagegen.ashx?Constrain=true&Compression=100&image=/media/162830/buchanan%20sisters%20restored.jpeg&height=500
References
The Friends of the Glasgow Necropolis (ND). “Buchanan Sisters”, https://www.glasgownecropolis.org/profiles/buchanan-sisters/
The Friends of the Glasgow Necropolis (ND) “Buchanan Sisters Appeal”, The Friends of the Glasgow Necropolis. https://www.glasgownecropolis.org/buchanansistersappeal/
Glasgow Herald (Glasgow, Scotland), “Munificent Bequests”, Friday, May 7, 1875; Issue 11033.
Glasgow Women’s Library (Glasgow, Scotland). “Glasgow Necropolis Women’s Heritage Walk”. 2011. http://womenslibrary.org.uk/gwl_wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/GWL-Glasgow-Necropolis-Womens-Heritage-Walk-Map-PDF.pdf
Scottish Civic Trust “The Buchanan Sisters Mausoleum”. My Place Awards. 2014. http://www.myplaceawards.org.uk/galleries/2014-gallery-of-entrants/the-buchanan-sisters-mausoleum.aspx
Drawing on findings from our How Philanthropy shapes Scotland project, our monthly Scottish Philanthropy Snippet explores the spectrum of people, places and practices that have contributed to the history of philanthropy in Scotland.