CARNEGIE, Helen 'Lady Benum and Lady Foveran' ^{1 2 3 4}

   User ID: M703.

  Research Notes:

GLENBUCHAT CASTLE

A most unusual architectural feature of Glenbuchat Castle is the flying arches supporting the stair turrets, a device popular in France; this may suggest that the master mason was sent from Angus to build the bride's new home. There are certainly similarities between Glen Buchat and Hatton Castle in Angus.

Glenbuchat Castle had ceased to be the Gordon home by the time it was sold in 1738 and was already partly unroofed. By the mid 19th century, it was entirely unroofed but the estate was bought by James Barclay, MP, in 1901 and essential repairs were made to conserve the ruin. In 1946 the castle was placed in state care by Colonel James Barclay Milen, and two years later the Deeside Field Club purchased the Castle Park and gifted it to the nation, ensuring that the castle retained its attractive setting.

The interior of the castle was remodelled, probably soon after John Gordon of Knockespock took over in 1701. The laird's hall was divided into two to create a dining room and a drawing room more suited to contemporary social taste, and the ceiling was lowered to make space for a new second floor beneath the old garret. By using wooden partitions, four extra bedrooms were provided on the new floor, in addition to those in the towers.

from visitdunkeld.com/glenbuchat-castle web page ⁵

Helen married William (or Robert) LUNDIE 3rd of Benholm, son of Andrew LUNDIE 2nd of Benholm and Margaret SCRIMGEOUR, by 25 June 1551.^{1 2} (William (or Robert) LUNDIE 3rd of Benholm was born about 1530.)

  Marriage Notes:

"9. Helen, married to William Lundie of Benholm. On 25 June 1551, they as spouses received a Crown charter of the lauds of Tullo and Inchmeddan in Kincardineshire on William Lundie's resignation. William Lundie died shortly after the marriage .... "

from Scots Peerage (vol 8)




"On 25th June 1551, William Lundie of Benholm and his wife Helen Carnegie, daughter of Sir Robert Carnegie, 5th of Kinnaird, by Margaret Githrie, received as spouses a Crown charter of the lands of Tullo and Inchmeddan in Kincardineshire upon William's resignation (Scots Peerage, VIII, 56)."

from lundie.org website ^{1 2}

Helen next married Robert TURING 9th of Foveran, son of James TURING and Unknown, before 31 May 1556.³ (Robert TURING 9th of Foveran was born about 1539 and died by 28 July 1580 ^{2 3}.)

  Marriage Notes:

"William Lundie died shortly after the marriage, and she (Helen Carnegie) was married, secondly, to Robert Turing of Foveran. She received, on 28 July 1580, a Crown confirmation of a charter of the lands of Blackhillock in liferent, granted by her husband in 1569. He is described in the confirmation as 'quondam Robertus de Foverne."

from Scots Peerage (vol 8) ²

Helen next married John GORDON of Cairnborrow and Edenglassie, son of John GORDON of Cairnborrow and Edinglassie and Bessie GORDON.^{2 4} (John GORDON of Cairnborrow and Edenglassie was born about 1553 and died before 6 February 1624 ⁶.)

  Marriage Notes:

"9. Helen, married to William Lundie of Benholm .... and she was married, secondly, to Robert Turing of Foveran .... She was married, thirdly, to John Gordon of Glenbucket."

from Scots Peerage (vol 8)




"On the property of Easter Bucket, Gordon - who appears to have been in affluent circumstances - erected, in 1590, the strong castle of Glenbucket. On the lintel stone of the door he caused his own name with that of his second wife to be inscribed. Only the following words and letters are now legible -

. . . . NE . HELEN . CARNEG AR. . . .EMANIS . BOT

At the time, however (1845-52), that Mr R. W. Billings made his sketch of the castle for his Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland, the whole inscription was intact

- IOHN . GORDONS . HELEN CARNEGIE: 1590. NO . THING . ON . EARTH . REMANIS . BOT . FAIME.

Mr Billings in his description remarks that the word 'faime' in this case 'is not intended to mean celebrity but the humbler attribute of good repute.'

The castle occupies an elevated and picturesque situation on a declivity of Ben Newe. It commands the passage up Glendon, as also the comparatively narrow inlet to Glenbucket. Messrs Macgibbon and Ross (Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland) describe it as a fine specimen of the house or castle with square towers at diagonally opposite angles ....

Helen Carnegie was the widow of Turing of Foveran, and John Gordon having purchased the estate of Benholm, she is designed in the preceding extract as 'the Ladyy Benum and Lady Foveran'."

from Epitaphs and Inscriptions ^{2 4}