Gartshore and Woodhall Estates

• GD101/1 Whitelaw Family Papers 1863-1879
• GD101/2 Gartshore Estate
  The Gartshore estate was originally owned by the Gartshore family. Alexander Whitelaw purchased the Gartshore Estate from John Murray Gartshore Esq. shortly before his death in 1879.
• GD101/3 Woodhall Estate
• GD101/4 Gartshore and Woodhall Estates Trust, 1938-1960
  The Gartshore and Woodhall Estates Trust appears to have been set up in 1938, probably on the death of Alexander Whitelaw, and to have existed until at least 1960.
• GD101/5 Gartshore and Woodhall Superiorities Consortium, 1973-
• GD101/6 Gartshore and Woodhall Combined, c 1960-
• GD101/13 Estate Plans (Flat)
• GD101/14 Estate Plans (Rolled)

Alexander Whitelaw (1823-1879), a joint manager of William Baird and Co, iron and coal masters, Coatbridge, purchased the Woodhall Estate in the parish of Bothwell, in 1874. The Gartshore Estate, Kirkintilloch, was acquired by him shortly before his death. On his death the estates passed to his eldest son, Alexander Whitelaw (1862-1938), who built Gartshore House in 1887. Alexander married Dorothy, the daughter of Ralph Disraeli of Hughenden, but died without any children in 1938, when the estates passed to his brother William Whitelaw (1868-1946). William had married Gertrude, the daughter of Col. T C Thompson of Milton Hall, Cumberland in 1890. Their son, William Alexander (1892-1919) married Helen, daughter of Major-General Francis Russell of Aden. He died in 1919, only a few years after the birth of their son William Stephen Ian Whitelaw (1918-1999) who inherited the estates in 1946. Popularly known a Willie Whitelaw, he decided to vacate Gartshore House on being elected MP for Penrith, Cumbria. Attempts were made to find an alternative use for the house but it was demolished in 1955. He became first Viscount Whitelaw in 1983. In 1973 Viscount Whitelaw divided his estates between his four daughters. His eldest daughter the Hon Elizabeth Susan Cunliffe-Lister received Gartshore Estate, the Hon Carolyn Graves-Johnston received Thankerton Estate, the Hon Mary Coltman received Holytown Estate and the Hon Pamela Graham the Faskine Estate. The Gartshore and Woodhall Superiorities Consortium was created at the same time and collectively owned by the three younger daughters. The Consortium managed all feu duties and bings. Viscount Whitelaw kept the residue of the Gartshore Estate, which on his death was inherited by Viscountess Whitelaw, and in 2006 was given to the Hon Susan Cunliffe-Lister's daughter. The Woodhall Estate continues to be owned by Viscountess Whitelaw.

This material is arranged into series, which consist of numbers of items related by format and/or function. Within series, the items are generally arranged chronologically

Open.

Further information on East Dunbartonshire Archives, including contact details if you have an enquiry or would like to access this collection, is available at www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/archives

• Glasgow University Archive Services deposit: estate factor on behalf of Viscount Whitelaw: ACCN 0010*. Deaccessioned June 2007.
• East Dunbartonshire Archives: Kirkintilloch.

Original GUAS description by Andrew Semple, Administration Assistant, and David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 2002.

Revised by Sarah Chubb, East Dunbartonshire Archives.

Paper catalogues available in reference section, William Patrick Library, 2-4 West High Street, Kirkintilloch G66 1AD.

Manual file level list available at the National Registers of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S)1553) and London (NRA19052)

Stored within the Gartshore Estate offices

None expected

GB 14 Political papers of William Whitelaw (Cambridge University: Churchill Archives Centre)