23 Shore Road, Skelmorlie – Not listed
Photo sources: 1. Aerial view of Ferniecraig c. 1970/80. Source: current owners. 2. 1910 Ordinance Survey. 3. Ferniecraig from the west. Source: ND 2025.
| Owners | Dates | Notes/Alterations |
|---|---|---|
| The Earl of Eglinton & Winton | Pre 1873 | Land owner |
| Miss Janet Dixon and family | 1873 – c.1895
1875 – c.1895 | Feu Contract signed for 2 acres, 1 rood and 21 poles. Ferniecraig built.
3 roods and 13 poles of land sold to Janet Dixon, by Robert Gardener of Redcliffe. |
| Mr & Mrs William Stewart | c.1895 – 1909 | |
| Misses Helen, Jessie & Maud Crum Ewing | 1909 – 1924 | |
| James Dunn Dunn | 1924 – 1964 | |
| James Ward Dunn | 1964 – 2009 | 1970s or 80s – Chimneys & extension to rear removed. 1986 – Tree Preservation Order applied. 1987 – 5.5k square metres of land at the top of the cliff sold to Mr & Mrs Quillan of Largs. |
| Current Owners | 2009 – Present |
About the house
Ferniecraig is situated on Shore Road in Skelmorlie, with scenic views overlooking the Firth of Clyde. The property is located between Mir-a-Mar to the north and the former Redcliffe (or Redclyffe) to the south.[1][2]
The history of Ferniecraig dates to 1873, when the Earl of Eglinton and Winton granted 2 acres, 1 rood, and 21 poles (approximately 9,580 square metres) of land to Janet Dixon. The grant included a condition that a dwelling house or villa, valued at no less than £700, must be constructed within two years. [1]
Two years later, Janet Dixon purchased a further 3 roods and 13 poles (about 3,340 square metres) from her neighbour, Robert Gardner, of Redcliffe. The precise location of this land—whether at the top of the cliff or to the south—remains uncertain. [1]
These grounds remained intact until John Ward Dunn sold 5,560 square metres (just over an acre) at the top of the cliff to Mr and Mrs Quillan of Largs in 1987. The current footprint of the property is outlined in blue on the ordinance survey map, above. [1][2]
External Architectural Features
The original house, commissioned by Janet Dixon, is a two-storey, rectangular structure built from red sandstone. It features exposed eaves and plain bargeboards. At the rear, a 1.5-storey extension housed the servant’s quarters and the original kitchen; this extension was removed in the late 1970s or early 80s. The house initially had four chimney stacks, each with two elongated pots designed to improve airflow due to the proximity to the cliff. [3]
Both the ground and upper floors have bay windows to the west, which soften the building’s façade. To the rear, an L-shaped building—formerly the stables and coach-house—has been converted into a holiday cottage. [3]
The main entrance is located on the west side and features a decorative overhang supported by corbels, a design echoed on the west-facing downstairs window. The front door consists of an outer storm door with a transom window above, leading to a small vestibule and a half-glazed decorative inner door. [3]
Interior Features – ground floor
Upon entering the front door, visitors are greeted by oak panelling to half height in the lower hallway and staircase, which is directly ahead. [3]
Opening off to the left is a small sitting room, which was most likely originally the parlour or study. The fireplace has a marble mantel, a black cast-iron insert and ornate tiles running down both sides. The room has decorative cornice and centre rose, a picture rail and an unusual built-in bookcase that protrudes outwards in a ‘V’ shape and has an elegant pediment. [3]
Also located off the left-hand side of the hallway is an original cloakroom and bathroom (with a Victorian claw-foot bathtub), and a laundry with wooden ceiling drying racks, wooden base units, and wall cupboards. [3]
On the right side of the hallway is a spacious dining room, distinguished by a bay window that spans the width of the room and an additional large south-facing window. The room features an intricately carved wooden mantel with maroon and black tile inserts. Above the main doorway is a highly decorative pediment adorned with a lady’s face, a motif that is mirrored on a blind door on the opposite (south) wall. [3]
Adjacent to the dining room is the current kitchen, which was most likely originally the butler’s pantry, intended for the storage of crockery and silverware. [3]
Interior Features – Upstairs
Ascending the staircase, which is fitted with decorative wrought iron balusters and a wooden handrail, one encounters a striking stained-glass window depicting a lady holding an oar beside a boat. Below the window is an inscription from verse 17 of Sir Walter Scott’s “The Lady of the Lake”.
“The maiden paused as if again,
she thought to catch the distant strain.
With head upraised and look intent
An eye and ear attentive bent” [3]
The upper floor includes three bedrooms, each with its own bespoke fireplace. In the room believed to have served as the nursery, the fireplace tiles are painted with fairy tale characters. [3]
Also upstairs, mirroring the footprint of the dining room below, is the formal sitting room, also known as the drawing room. This space features a bay window spanning the width of the room, an additional south-facing window, a decorative wooden mantle with an insert of aqua blue tiles, intricate cornicing, a central ceiling rose, a picture rail, deep skirting boards, and a beautifully inlaid oak floor.[3]
The upstairs bathroom remains original, complete with a Victorian roll-top bath and claw feet. Throughout both floors, the doors have been scrumbled to create texture and depth, and most are fitted with attractive brass handles.[3]
Author’s note: The interior of Ferniecraig today is remarkable for its abundance of architectural features, many of which are as they were when the house was first constructed.
The gardens at Ferniecraig are formally designed, featuring structured paths, well-maintained shrubs, and a spacious lawn. The latter was once used as a grass tennis court. At the rear of the property, a set of steps is carved into the cliffside, originally leading up to the kitchen garden and orchard that once occupied the top of the cliff. In 1987, John Dunn sold this upper land, which today is the site of ‘Makalu’ on Eglinton Terrace. [3]
At the base of the cliff, there are three caves – two are relatively shallow, while the third extends 30 feet deep. Inside the deepest cave, a scalloped porcelain bowl has been placed to catch dripping water, creating a sound that is both sharp and echoing as the sound travels and reflects off the cave walls. [3]
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About the owners of Ferniecraig
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Janet Dixon and family (owner between 1873 and c.1895)
The first owner of Ferniecraig was Janet Dixon, who purchased the land from the Earl of Eglinton and Winton in 1873 and proceeded to build the house and stables. [1]
Despite an extensive search, we’ve been unable to discover much about Janet. The earliest public record we’ve found is the 1875 valuation roll (Scotland’s local tax records for the period), which lists Miss Janet Dixon as the owner and provides not only her Ferniecraig address but also Twickenham in Middlesex. [5]
Whilst the 1881 census does include the 11-room Ferniecraig, the head of household was not at home. Instead, there was a live-in cook and housemaid. Visiting was the housemaid’s 16-year-old daughter, who was a dressmaker. John Campbell, gardener, aged 61, and his wife, Isabella, aged 57, were living in the coach house above the stables. [6]
By 1885, Ferniecraig was owned by the heirs of the late William Smith Dixon of 1 Dixon Street, Glasgow, indicating that Janet was deceased and her estate had reverted to the family’s male line. A tenant, Mrs Ramsay Mechin or Machan, was living in the house. [5]
A few years later, at the time of the 1891 census, Mrs Mechin/Machin, aged 80, living on private means, was still staying at Ferniecraig. With her were two live-in servants, a cook and a housemaid, different from those of 10 years earlier. Still living at the coach house were John Campbell, aged 72, gardener, and his wife Isabella, aged 68. [6]
Author’s note: If anyone has any more information about Miss Dixon, we’d be delighted to know.
Mr & Mrs William Stewart (owners between c. 1895 and 1909)
Between 1891 and 1895, ownership of Ferniecraig transferred to Mr William Stewart of Kelvinhaugh Street, Glasgow. Born in 1861 at 4 Kelvingrove Street, Glasgow, William Stewart was the fourth of at least six children. His parents were Andrew Blackwood Stewart, a timber merchant and saw miller, and Janet Young. [1][5][6][7][8]
According to the 1871 census, the Stewart family lived in a five-room apartment on India Street. At that time, Andrew Stewart was 46 and employed 51 men and 3 boys. Janet Young was 45, and their children ranged in age from 4 to 19, with William being 9 years old. [9]
Although we’ve been unable to locate William Stewart in the 1881 census, his parents were then living in a 13-room house on Royal Crescent, accompanied only by two servants—a cook and a housemaid. None of their children was present. [9]
In 1887, at age 26, William Stewart was working as a timber merchant and residing at Kelvingrove Terrace. That year, he married Margaret Shaw MacLaren, who was 23 and from Pollockshields. Her parents were Robert MacLaren, a Master Iron Founder, and Mary Jane Findlay MacLaren. [7]
The couple cannot be found in either the 1891 or 1901 censuses. However, records show that William Stewart purchased Ferniecraig in Skelmorlie in 1895, and a housemaid and charwoman were living at the house in the subsequent Skelmorlie census. [9]
In 1902, William Stewart either purchased or rented a house on Crown Terrace in Dowanside, Glasgow, in addition to owning Ferniecraig. [10]
Tragically, on February 25, 1904, William Stewart died in Egypt at the age of 42. The Glasgow Herald announced his passing, noting his connection to both 5 Crown Terrace, Dowanhill, and Ferniecraig, Skelmorlie. A subsequent notice provided details of his internment at Craigton Cemetery on April 1, with carriages departing from Crown Terrace. [8]
After his death, Ferniecraig passed to his wife, Margaret Stewart, who retained ownership until 1909. During the years between her husband’s death and the sale of the property, Margaret lived variously in Skelmorlie, Versailles, and Eastbourne. She died in Paris in 1912, and, like her husband, was returned to Scotland for burial at Craigton Cemetery. [1][8]
Misses Helen, Jessie & Maud Crum Ewing (owners between 1909 and 1924)
Humphry Crum Ewing
The next owners of Ferniecraig were three sisters: Helen Dick Crum Ewing, Jessie Robson Crum Ewing, and Maud Erskine Crum Ewing. They were daughters of Humphrey Crum Ewing Jnr and Janet Creelman Robson. [1][11][12]
Humphry Ewing Crum Ewing Jnr was the youngest son of Helen Dick, daughter of the Reverend John Dick of Glasgow and Humphry Ewing Crum Ewing. Humphry was a Scottish liberal politician who served as MP for Paisley between 1857 and 1874, as well as Lord-Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire. [12]
Ardencaple Castle, Helensburgh
Humphry Jnr spent most of his childhood at Ardencaple Castle in Helensburgh, which his parents rented. [12]
After earning an Arts degree from Glasgow University, Humphry joined his father and eldest brother in the firm, James Ewing & Co, established by his uncle. He also became the chairman of the West Indian Association of Glasgow and a director of the Colonial Company of London. [12]
In 1862, at age 26, Humphry married Janet Creelman Robson, daughter of Neil Robson, Merchant, and Agnes Merry. Shortly after their wedding, they moved to 13 Somerset Place in the Kelvingrove area of Glasgow, where their first child, Agnes Merry Crum Ewing, was born in 1863. The family soon relocated to Woodside Place, where four more children were born: Helen Dick Crum Ewing (1865), Humphrey Ewing Crum Ewing (1866), Jessie Robson Crum Ewing (1870), and Jane Coventry Crum Ewing (1872). Their last two children, Neil Robson Crum Ewing (1874) and Maud Erskine Crum Ewing (1877), were born after the family moved to 28 Belhaven Terrace, where they remained until 1899. [11] [12] [15]
The 1871 census shows the family, except for Humphry, living at the 14-room Woodside Place with four servants: a nurse, under-nurse, cook, and table maid. In March 1878, Humphry died at Better Hope Estate, Demerara, Guyana, whilst visiting one of the firm’s plantations. His body was returned to the UK and buried in the family plot at Glasgow Necropolis, leaving Janet with seven children aged between 1 and 15. [11][12][16]
28 Belhaven Terrace
By 1881, the family had moved to Belhaven Terrace. Janet, now a widow, lived there with Helen (16), Jessie (10), and Maud (4). We don’t know where the other children were. Ten years later, in 1891, Janet (50) was living with Agnes (27), Helen (26), Jessie (20), Jane (18), Neil (16, referred to as Nigel), and Maud(14), along with a live-in cook. In 1899, Janet (58) died at Drumkilbo, Meigle, Perthshire, where the family was living. She still owned the house at Belhaven Terrace but was renting it out at the time. Janet’s body was transported to Glasgow to be buried beside her husband. [12][15][16]
Drumkilbo House, Meigle, Perthshire
By the 1901 census, the four unmarried sisters – Agnes (37), Helen (36), Jessie (30), and Maud (24) – were still living at the 19-room Drumkilbo House together with four servants: a housemaid, parlour maid, cook, and laundress. The Belhaven property had been sold. [12][15][17]
In 1908, Agnes died. The following year, the three remaining sisters, Helen, Jessie, and Maud, purchased together Ferniecraig (although they always referred to the house as Ferncraig) in Skelmorlie. In the following census, their brother Neil (36) was living with the sisters and was listed as head of household, despite having no financial interest in the property! Also present were Jessie (40) and Maud (34), as well as three live-in servants, a housemaid, a cook, and a table maid. [1][6]
By 1921, Helen (56), Jessie (51), Neil (46), and Maud (44) were still at Ferncraig, along with two visitors and three servants. Later that year, Jessie married Hilary Rougier Moullin, a planter, in Skelmorlie Parish Church, but sadly, he died of dysentery just two months after their wedding.[6][11]
In 1924, the three sisters sold Ferncraig. We do not know where they moved after this. [1]
James Dunn Dunn (owner between 1924 and 1964)
The next owner of Ferniecraig was James D. Dunn, a shipbroker living in Glasgow. [1]
Born in January 1876 at 9 Sandyford Place, Glasgow, James D. Dunn was the ninth of thirteen children. His parents were James Dunn, a fish and provision merchant, and Helen (Turner) Dunn. Notably, James D. Dunn’s father was the son of David and Margaret Dunn, who built and lived at Annet House in Skelmorlie (now Shuma Court), just five doors south of Ferniecraig.
In 1881, James, Helen, and nine of their children (aged between 15 and 1) lived at 20 Park Circus, Glasgow, along with five live-in servants: two nurses, a laundress, a cook, and a table maid. Five years later, in 1886, James Dunn passed away, leaving Helen with eleven children, seven of whom were under 15. [18][19]
The family were still living at 20 Park Circus in 1891. Helen (then 47) was the head of household, living on private means. The eldest child, Jessie, had married Thomas Cuthbert Stewart the previous year and was no longer at home. David (24) was a stockbroker, Margaret (23) was unmarried, and the remaining children—Turner (21), Helen (19), Katherine (18), James D. (16), Florence (13), Frederick (11), and Bannatyne (7)—were still in full-time education. [18][19]
Although James D. could not be traced in the 1901 census, the family was still at 20 Park Circus. Present were Helen (59), her daughter Helen (29), her youngest son Herbert (18), and five live-in servants. Ten years later, only James D. (35) and Bannatyne (27), both now shipbrokers, were at home. [19]
In 1915, James D. (39) married Florence Kerr Ward (24), daughter of John Ward, a master shipbuilder, and Helen Elizabeth Kerr. [18]
Two years later, James’s mother died at age 75 at Annet House in Skelmorlie. The informant was her eldest daughter, Jessie M Stewart of Blackhouse (Manor Park). This left James as head of the family, as his two older brothers, David and Turner, had died in 1909 and 1901, respectively. [18]
That same year, James D. and Florence welcomed their first child, Florence Jean Dunn, and two years later, in 1921, their son John Ward Dunn. [18]
Three years later, in 1924, James D. Dunn purchased Ferniecraig in Skelmorlie. We understand that the house was a wedding gift from Florence’s father, John Ward, and that John Ward also bought a house for James’s brother Bannatyne, who married another of his daughters, Helen Kerr Ward. [1][20]
We believe that James D. and Florence gave up their Glasgow address soon after, as their son, John Ward Dunn, told locals he had lived at Ferniecraig all his life. [3][18][21]
In 1940, James D. and Florence’s daughter, Jean (22), married Rodney Wrightson (24) from Darlington, whose father, Gary, was a steel merchant and baronet, and whose mother was Gwendoline. The wedding took place at Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay Parish Church. [18]
James D. died at home in 1951, aged 75, twenty-seven years after moving to Skelmorlie. Thirteen years later, his widow, Florence, also passed away at home. Her son John was at her side. [18]
John Ward Dunn (owner between 1964 and 2009)
Following his mother’s death, Ferniecraig passed to John Ward Dunn (43). [1]
John was a very private man, and by all accounts, a true gentleman. We know that he was a shipping director working for Harrison of Clyde and was involved with the set-up of Western Ferries. [21]
John was exceptionally proud of Ferniecraig, and he did everything to protect and maintain the original features of the house. In his later years, he took up rug making, and his creations were used to adorn the house. We also understand he enjoyed tennis and, in his younger days, the front lawn was regularly transformed into a grass court. [21]
As already mentioned, John lived at Ferniecraig for all except 3 years of his life. He was unmarried but lived a long and fulfilled life, dying aged 87 in October 2008. He was much loved by his nephew and nieces, Jeremy and Lindsay, and Mary and Jon. [21][22]
Acknowledgments:
Our thanks to the current owners of Ferniecraig for allowing access to their home and providing information and photographs.
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Sources and references:
[1 ] Land Registry – Summary Sasine Deed for Ferniecraig.
[2] 1910 Ordinance Survey map – Skelmorlie.
[3] Information provided by the current owners and author’s notes from a visit to the house.
[4 ] Glossary of architectural terms.
[5] Skelmorlie Valuation Rolls – 1875,1885,1895.
[6] Skelmorlie Census 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 and 1921.
[7] Birth, death, and marriage certificates for William Stewart and family.
[8] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/221122235/william-stewart.
[9] Glasgow (Barony) censuses – 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901.
[10] http://www.glasgowwestaddress.co.uk/Crown_Terrace/Crown_Terrace_Numbers.htm.
[11] Birth, death, and marriage certificates for Misses Helen, Jessie and Maud Crum Ewing and family.
[12] Glasgow Necropolis – Crum Ewing family
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_Crum-Ewing
[14] Ardencaple Castle
[15] Glasgow West Address – 28 Belhaven Terrace, Glasgow
[16] Glasgow 1871 (Barony) census and 1891 (Partick) census.
[17] Meigle, East Perthshire, census 1901.
[18] Birth, death, and marriage certificates for James Dunn Dunn and family.
[19] 1981, 1891, 1901, 1911 and 1921 censuses (Kelvin, Glasgow).
[20] S Dunn, a distant relation of John Ward Dunn.
[21] M Yeomans, a friend of John Ward Dunn in his later years.