Crossbasket Owner, Thomas D Findlay

 

Thomas Dunlop Findlay was born on 31^st October 1895 into an exceptionally wealthy family. His father Robert Findlay was a successful East India Merchant who had married Helen Maitland on 15^th December 1896. Their family held an important Scottish position in 1634 when the Findlay family constructed the splendid Boturich Castle, near Loch Lomond, Dumbartonshire. The Findlay family held residence there from that time and indeed at the time of writing this article in 2015, they still reside there.

This was real wealth received from new founded Colonial trade shipping routes around the world. This Castle came with titles.

1919 – Setting out to make his way in the world, away from his father and family, Thomas Dunlop Findlay purchased Crossbasket at the age of just 24. At this time, he worked at 146 Buchanan Street, Glasgow as an East India Merchant and was single. He had previously been living at Cathkin House, Rutherglen, itself an equally grand large house where he was courting Evelyn Emily Hog.

1920 – One of the first things, the “youngster” did upon purchasing the Crossbasket estate, occurred in either 1920 or 1921, when a second tennis court was added, a larger one with hardstanding, in the field to the east of the Castle. The court had summer seats all around and was nestled amongst fruit trees, some of which are still there today.

1922 – On 1^st June 1922, Thomas, aged 27 married Eveyln and on 8^th March 1923, they had a son, Robert, who was born at their new family home at Crossbasket.

1923 – in May, Mrs. Eveyln Findlay advertised for “an experienced (single) Laundress” at Crossbasket.

Pictured is Boturich Castle in 2013, to this day, the family home of the Findlay family.

An extract from “The History of Crossbasket Castle” by Paul Veverka (c)