Duncan McDougall shared this photo adding, “I live in Glenrose at Stoneymeadow Road and I found a receipt for the purchase of Glenrose, acknowledging the receipt of £300 by James Little in 1932 for the purchase of the house. The receipt is made out to Mrs Agnes Pate. “
Accessed from Stoneymeadow Road opposite Calderwood North Lodge, Glenrose is the house which faces on to Crossbasket Castle on the north side of the road. (pictured)
Seeing the purchase confirmed in March 1932, means James Little was getting his affairs in order for the surrounding properties to Crossbasket, prior to him actually acquiring Crossbasket House. He must have sold his surrounding properties, ahead of finalisation of the large acquisition of Crossbasket itself. I have notes suggesting at the age of 54, James Little purchased Crossbasket House and Estate grounds on 6th April 1932 but looks like I’’ll need to amend this to a month or so earlier.
On 10th May 1933, just a year after moving to Crossbasket a “Feu Disp” was raised in the deeds (a lease that may have relied upon a service being undertaken, in return for living at Glenrose, rather than paying rent). This particular deed was to Agnes Meikle or Pate then a widow, Margaret Sloan Pate and Hugh Meikle Pate a dairyman. It’s my understanding, the house had been there for over 80 years already by this time. The deed included 34 Poles, 24 square yards of land.
Later that decade, James Little would be up in court for the type of deeds and rental agreements he offered. They worked a little like a mortgage, where in return for a continued service, such as being a cook, Gardner etc, the house was eventually paid off, the tenant eventually having full ownership. James was no stranger to being creative with mortgages and rents, almost always protecting himself rather than offering favourable terms to tenants. For example, those who did take a mortgage out, if they forfeit even one month, they forfeited the previous payments too, having to “start again!”. It was a practice which ended up with him in trouble in court, but ultimately, he got off with it, having proven signed contracts by tenants. It appears the sale of Glenrose in 1932 was James cutting loose the surrounding properties to focus on Crossbasket House and grounds only.
I’d heard a few years ago Glenrose was renovated around the time of Crossbasket renovation. It’s a lovely old house and beautiful location.
