Readers’ letters

Honour in error

Dear Ed, – I read with interest the letter from M Young titled An Act of Union - perhaps you might like another concerning George Lockhart of Carnwath.

Sir George Lockhart was the second son of Sir James Lockhart, twelfth of Lee Castle (pictured right) and his son was George Lockhart of Carnwath.

Sir James Lockhart 1596-1674 a judge – Lord Lee, being a zealous royalist was knighted by James 6th. He commanded a regiment at the Battle of Preston in 1648 in support of Charles 1st and was later captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. All would have been lost but for the marriage of Sir William Lockhart to Cromwell’s niece Robina Shouster.

Sir William Lockhart (1621-1675), thirteenth of Lee Castle, first son of Lord Lee was appointed commissioner for the administration of justice in Scotland and Ambassador in Paris by Oliver Cromwell.

Sir William was able to use his influence to obtain the release of his father Lord Lee saving his lands and his life.

Sir George Lockhart (1622-1689) was the second son of Lord Lee. He lived in Edinburgh and rose to become Lord President of the Court of Session. He was famous for his eloquence and well liked.

Such was the esteem within the courts that on the occasion of his disbarment, for showing disrespect by advising an appeal for parliament, 50 colleagues withdrew from practice to show support. He was readmitted.

Sir George Lockhart was murdered by John Chiesly. John Chiesly disagreed with a ruling in favour of his wife and 11 children from whom he wished a divorce.

Such was his rage that he threatened Sir George Lockhart and murdered him on Easter Sunday. Sir George attended St Giles; John Chiesly followed him the short distance to Old Bank Close and shot him dead. Chiesly was tortured, his right hand was cut off and he was hanged with his gun round his neck.

Sir George Lockhart purchased the lands of Carnwath and Dryden. There is a portrait of Sir George Lockhart in the Scottish Portrait Gallery; it is in storage at the moment at Granton in Edinburgh but can be viewed by appointment.

George Lockhart of Carnwath (1673-1731) was only a boy when his father was murdered. He was a fervent Jacobite who worked tirelessly for the Stuart cause. He inherited the lands of Carnwath and Dryden House, the estate which was between Roslin and Bilston outside Edinburgh - the tower still stands but the house is gone.

George Lockhart was a member of the Scottish Parliament, was involved with the arrangements concerning the union with England which he later tried to repeal and he was involved with the rising of 1715.

He used his position to share information and inform for the Jacobite cause both locally and later in France, and his involvement was to land him in prison. The Duke of Argyll obtained his release, following which he fled abroad returning later only to die in a duel. George Lockhart is famous for his writing known as the ‘Lockhart papers’.

In 1835 Macdonald of Glenaladale arranged for a memory of the rising of the standard. The sculptor was given a portrait of George Lockhart instead of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

He is immortalised aloft at Glenfinnan. – Yours etc.,

SUSAN FLORENCE,

Park Road,

Carnwath.

Heritage threat

Dear Ed. – Let’s hope that Ron Harris’s article on “Lugless Will” reaches the lugs of Historic Scotland and the planning department.

Once again it would seem that commercial gain is more important than heritage.

Recently the threat to New Lanark was described in a prestigious national daily as “embarrassing the nation”.

Alasdair Gray too in the national press labels Historic Scotland’s opinion as “incompetent stupidity”.

It should be remembered that listing as a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site is not an accolade lightly bestowed. What more is needed? – Yours etc.,

MARGARET YOUNG,

Castle Yett,

Biggar.

Cruelty to dog?

Dear Ed, – Re: Barker Injury, reported February 6, 2013.

If the vet who initially consulted Barker and his owner had decided to treat Barker promptly without SSPCA intervention, this 13-year-old dog who has rarely left his countryside environment, works hard on the farm and is a much loved and respected part of a farming team (semi-retired he gets a bit more pampering!!) would have been returned to his home.

Sadly, he was immediately incarcerated in an SSPCA cell in Glasgow for five months.

The SSPCA management team would not allow us contact with the dog – that, in my opinion, is an act of cruelty with a dog in unfamiliar surroundings wanting to see a familiar face.

The SSPCA’s intervention was narrow-minded.

Prosecution is their main focus.

Prosecutions generate funds.

The subsequent publicity generates funds but does not tell the whole story – Yours etc.,

MARGO MASON,

Park Avenue,

Coulter.

Not decorative

Dear Ed, – As much as I can sympathise with the article “Bag The Dog Dirt”, I would like to point out that not all dog owners are brainless, irresponsible people.

Being a dog owner, I too am disgusted at the amount of dogs’ dirt on our pavements. It only takes minutes to bag and pick up.

A word of advice to the writer of the article: never walk round the racecourse – that is like walking through a minefield. Yes, there are those who pick up, but some, instead of using the bins provided, prefer to decorate the fences around the fields. That also is disgusting and unsightly. – Yours etc.,

ANN NEAL, 
Lanark.

Note of courage

Dear Ed, – As a long-time supporter of the Stroke Association, I’m calling on your readers to nominate someone who’s been affected by stroke for the charity’s Life After Stroke Awards.

These awards recognise the courage and determination of survivors as they struggle to recover after stroke and celebrate the fantastic support given by carers and volunteers.

The closing date is March 2. Visit www.stroke.org.uk/lasa for details. – Yours etc.,

KAREN BRADY,

Patron.