The 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade

(1 Samodzielna Brygada Spadochronowa)

Overview Of All Owners
& Occupiers Of Largo House

Sir Andrew Woods Tower & Mansion / Castle

These are all the known owners of Andrew Woods Tower & Mansion / Castle:

  • 1490 to 1611 - Sir Andrew Wood (Owner)
  • 1611 to ???? - Peter Black (Owner)
  • ???? to 1662 - Sir Alexander Gibson Of Durie (Owner)
  • 1662 to 1663 - Sir Alexander Durham (Owner)
  • 1663 to 1667 - Francis Durham (Owner, inherited)
  • 1667 to ???? - James Durham Esq Of Largo & Anne Anstruther (Owner, inherits)

Largo House

All known owners, tenants & inheritors of Largo House (All owners underlined):

  • ???? to 1808 - James Durham Esq Of Largo & Anne Calderwood (Owner, inherits)
  • 1808 to 1840 - General James Durham (Owner, inherits)
  • 1840 to 1867 - Thomas Calderwood Durham (Owner, inherited from his uncle General James Durham)
  • 1867 to 1867 - Philip Durham (Owner, inherits)
  • 1867 to 1868 - William Johnston (Owner, bought it for £130K)
  • 1868 to 1900 - George Johnstone (Owner - Inherited from father, William Johnston) However the Fifeshire Advertiser newspaper of 27/11/1880 reports John Jeffrey Esq and Mrs Jeffrey of Largo House arriving in India. (Were they subtenants? Related to Captain Jeffrey who later tenanted the house?)
  • 1901 to 1904 - Lieutenant Charles Maitland Makgill Crichton (Owner). The Dundee Evening Post Newspaper of 8/8/1901 reports Mr R.M.C Johnston taking up residence there (Sub-tenant?).
  • 1904 to 1924 Mr Benjamin G Cox (Tenant). However The Courier Newspaper of 6/9/1912 reports a fire at the house and the occupier as Mr Robert Blackwood Ritchie.
  • 1924 to ???? - Captain Jeffrey & Mrs Jeffrey (Assumed Tenant)
  • 1928 to 1930 -  House is reported as tenantless by The Courier (13/02/28)
  • 1930 to 1939 - Mr John Key Hutchison (Tenant) (Reported In The Courier & Advertiser 4/6/30)
  • 1940 - Requisitioned By the MOD
  • 1940 to 1941 - MOD: 4th Cadre Rifle Brigade
  • 1941 to 1944 - MOD: 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade
  • 1944 to ???? - MOD: Geographical Institute
  • 1951 - Stripped out & declared derelict

Therefore, the owners of Largo House today in 2020 remain as:

The Maitland Makgill Crichton family

Further Reading

  • Some ancestry data available here.

Please Donate!

Donate_heart

Uncover The Past - Support The Future

Each year, about 12,000 people visit this website to trace their Polish ancestry, uncover family stories, and connect with their roots. I believe that history should be accessible to all - but keeping this website alive comes at a cost, 7 years @ £1000 with has left a £7K dent...with only £11 in total donated up to 8/4/25 😱😱😱

Every detail you uncover and every story you piece together helps you piece family history together. Please donate if you found this site useful, help me keep the site alive! Thanks! Jason Nellyer (Researcher & Site Owner)