Over the years we’ve published several articles related to the Glenfinart House fire which destroyed the building in 1968 (see related posts below). We’ve also received some fascinating comments from individuals who were employed by the hotel and were able to give a first hand account of the events of that day.
With apparently very few photographs which captured the fire, we were very surprised to learn of the existence of some amateur colour movie footage filmed on that August day.
Sallie McDougall’s father-in-law, Callie McDougall, lived above Dunoon Fire Station and was a keen cine camera enthusiast. On the day of the fire he grabbed his camera and filmed the fire tenders leaving Dunoon and the subsequent battle to remodel your house save the Ardentinny landmark. His remarkable footage can be seen below. Callie and his wife (Irene) moved to England in the late 60s, but returned to live in Blairmore in the 1980s.
We are grateful to Sallie McDougall for providing us with this historic film.
Following on from our previous articles related to when Glenfinart House was used for summer holidays by the Friendship Holidays Association, we are grateful to Richard Woolley who has provided us with the above photograph taken in August 1939 and shows a group of FHA guests outside Glenfinart House. The photo includes Richard’s Mother (back row, third from the right).
We are again indebted to Griffin Turton who has provided us with the following photograph taken in 1943 in front of Glenfinart House (HMS Armadillo) which was at the time the RN HQ.
The picture was taken whilst ‘N’ or ‘Nan’ RN Beach Commando were at HMS Armadillo in early 1943 and shows from left to right Sub/Lt ‘Jumbo’ Jarvis RNVR; Sub/Lt Alec Varley RNVR, both ABMs (Assistant Beach Masters) in N2 section; Lt Dougall MacArthur RNVR who had been an ABM with G2 in North Africa where he was wounded; Lt Maurice Vernon Redshaw RNVR, BM of N2, an unknown WREN Officer and Sub/Lt Brian Wallace RNVR, ABM N3.
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Continuing on from our previous article on Glenfinart House when it was used as a holiday centre between the 1930’s and early 60’s. Elizabeth Brooking, granddaughter of the late Henry C. White, owner of Friendship Holidays Association, has provided us with more images and information from her archive. In addition to Glenfinart House, Henry C. White owned a chain of holiday centres throughout the UK as well as offering holidays in France, Switzerland and Italy.
The house finally closed as a holiday centre in 1961, on the death of Henry C.White and the majority of the building was destroyed by fire in 1968. All that remains today is the main turret.
Through the previous posts on Glenfinart House at Ardentinny.org, Elizabeth (whose parents met at Glenfinart House) has also found a long-lost relative who shares the same great grandfather as her. This has resulted in dozens of unknown relatives being traced. She’s looking forward to meeting at least some of them in the future!
With the help of Ardentinny.org Elizabeth has also been in contact with others researching the history of the Friendship Holidays Association and the hope is that the FHA material which has been collected will be archived for future generations, to provide a history on the organisation and the people involved.
As a footnote In 1966, Elizabeth Brooking’s mother wrote a story for a competition based on the Ardentinny fire. It can be read here.
Photographs courtesy Elizabeth Brooking.
Advertisement from 1934.1930’s: ‘Promotional’ letter on the opening of Glenfinart House.Glenfinart House probably in the 1950’s.
1932 holiday brochure.Article on the man behind Friendship Holidays Association, Henry C. White.1961: Probably the last group of guests at Glenfinart House, as the centre closed that year following the death of H.C.White.1968: Article from Dunoon newspaper on the Glenfinart House fire.
Linda’s mother and Shandy the boxer at Glenfinart House 1968
As a young girl of 13, Linda Sinclair was on Holiday at Glenfinart House Hotel, Ardentinny in the summer of 1968. This was the week before fire destroyed the historic house on 24th August, of the same year. Linda’s brother Jim and his family were actually in the hotel when the fire alarm was sounded, they were in the second floor room of the Tower.
The following are some of Linda’s recollections.
I do have very vivid memories of Glenfinart House. I can remember exactly the way the house looked in August 1968.
The entrance into the hallway had a great sweeping staircase and deep red carpet. There was a large stained glass window on the curve of the staircase with its coats of arms and a huge chandelier hung in the hallway. To the right, at the bottom of the staircase, was a long corridor, on the right of that was the large dining doom to the front of the house with a view of the loch.
I remember the hallway was hung with very large oil paintings of past residents, and a battle scene with men in tartan (I didn’t like it, as there were dead horses and dead people in it!). Further along was a very large sitting room that was not very inviting https://betplaysca.top/, it had a huge ornate fireplace and the furniture was old dark mahogany. Nobody ever sat in this room. There was a bullet hole in one of the windows at the top I remember, and the curtains were heavy and dark. This window also looked out over to Loch Long.
On the left side of the corridor was a smaller room which was the bar, it had patio windows and steps down to the garden at the back, a door in the corner led to upper floor bedrooms.
The kitchens were also on this side of the corridor, across from the dining room. I remember there was a huge oil painting on the corridor wall. It was of Glenfinart House, from the shoreline of the Loch, with the forest behind the house. All purple and green hues. It was amazing and it took up the whole wall, and had an ornate gilt frame. Oh, what happened to these paintings? I reckon they were all destroyed in the fire (so sad).
I remember the hut with the biggest book in the world that was on your left as you came into the driveway. I also remember my room which was to the side of the house. It looked on to the stone bridge that led down to the little bay.
I was told of a ghostly lone piper who played the lament on the top of the tower and about a lady who was one of the inhabitants.
Also I remember the people who had the hotel were not Scots. They were Londoners. I think the lady who owned Shandy the dog was named Cath and there was a waiter named Dave who had a bad limp.
Glenfinart House burns on 24 August 1968
24.08.68 In one of the largest incidents of its kind in Argyll the Brigade were called on Saturday, August 24, 1968, at 0846 to the Glenfinnart Hotel, Ardentinny. Repeat calls had been received from Cove and Kilcreggan and crews arrived to face a serious fire which is well illustrated by the fireground message “A building of 2-3 and 4 floors about 120 feet by 230 feet, first floor, roof and tower well alight. Make pumps 3.”Seven jets were used on this fire and crews were in attendance for over 13 hours. Courtesy: Dunoon Fire Service Centenary 1889 – 1989.
My niece Lesley was one of the children that was in the second floor room when the fire broke out. She told me that she was sitting on her potty at the time, and my brother picked her up potty and all and took her outside.
I had made great friends with the owners’ boxer dog named Shandy on my stay, and was completely devastated when the dog was killed in the fire. My brother had tried to save the dog, as it was in the room above, and he heard it run up and down the room in distress. He tried to get up the stairs to the room but the heat and smoke was too intense.
Glenfinart House today
My brother told me that the Dunoon Fire Brigade recovered the poor dog’s body and laid it to rest on the grass lawn on the right of the front of the door. I did go back some weeks later and found the grave of Shandy and cried my eyes out. In later years my family, who are in the demolition business from Glasgow, demolished the house. Only the tower remains today.
We are grateful to Linda Sinclair for sharing her memories with us. We would very much welcome any additional anecdotes related to the history of Glenfinart House.
