| Born Ravenscraig Villas (8-16 Hillpark Rd), Wormit.
Forgan Parish, County of Fife.
A Scottish girl who
migrated to Australia when only about 15yrs with her parents. She grew
up in a classic Scottish 2 storey cottage with low small doors. As her
father work on an estate, the family enjoyed home help with domestic
servants. But this is a cold part of the world and the family left to
seek opportunity and a healthier warmer climate. Before coming to
Australia Isa knew nothing of house work. This was to change forever
and after she married, home was to in a large tent on an onion farm.
Her first child Charlie was born here during the night with the help
of her mother in law who was an experienced midwife. An ever
increasing family kept her busy and was to reward her with a long life
of family gatherings and visits. A visit to grandma was always
rewarded with the latest news and story's from a spreading family.
Although she never lost her Scottish accent it was as strong as many
and was always pleasing to listen to with Australian ears. She kept us
in touch with each other and a sense of belonging that greatly missed.
As a small child I always loved visiting her as she had on her shelves
and walls ornaments that seemed wonderfully strange and exotic, things
not seen in the normal domestic life. This included birds and
especially talking Cockatoo's who greeted you as you entered the house
with "Hello Polly". I hope that one day I can create such a
world my grandchildren can visit.
Born
Ravenscraig Villas, Wormit. Forgan
Forgan parish extends 4 miles in length by 2 in breadth,
lying near the mouth of the Tay; having
Ferryport-on-Craig on the east, Leuchars & Kilmany on
the south and Balmerino on the west. The land generally
declines to the Tay from an elevated background, and is
now well cultivated, inclosed and beautifully wooded. On
the shore is Newport where there is a small harbour and
ferry station opposite to Dundee. Recently some handsome
villas have been erected on the slopes to the river, and
a new road cut to Ferryport-on-Craig. Forgan has a
constant communication maintained with the Dundee side by
ferry. The Kirk of Forgan, which is situate inland, is
about 10 miles from Cupar and the like distance from St
Andrews. About one mile west from Newport is the small
harbour of Woodhaven ." from Slater's Directory,
published 1852.
View Larger Map
Forgan parish is an agricultural parish on the south
shore of the River Tay opposite Dundee. It has been the
site of a ferry across the river for several hundred
years. The village of Newport grew up around the ferry
terminal. In the 1820s, the introduction of a steam ferry
led to the building of Marytown, an extension of Newport.
The town grew steadily during Victorian times. The
building of the Tay (railway) bridge at Wormit saw the
growth of that part of the parish as a commuter suburb
for the middle classes of Dundee while Newport also
expanded with similar housing. The burgh was created in
1887 and Wormit was added to it in 1902. Wormit was the
first village in Scotland to have electric light in its
houses.
Settlements:
--Newport
--Woodhaven
--Wormit
Wormit.
A settlement on the Firth of Tay in NE Fife, situated at
the southern end of the Tay Rail Bridge and lying at the
western end of the Newport-on-Tay urban area.
It developed as a Dundee commuter settlement after the
opening of the Tay Bridge in 1887. Wormit, which claims
to have been the first village in Scotland to install
electricity, has a bowling club and a boating club.
Isa's Aunty Margaret Kinnear died in great Scottish
rail disaster
The Tay bridge disaster
At approximately 7:15 p.m. on the stormy night of 28
December 1879, the central navigation spans of the Tay
bridge collapsed into the Firth of Tay at Dundee, taking
with them a train, 6 carriages and 75 souls to their
fate. At the time, a gale estimated at force 10 to 11 was
blowing down the Tay estuary at right angles to the
bridge. The collapse of the bridge, only opened 19 months
and passed safe by the Board of Trade, sent shock waves
through the Victorian engineering profession and general
public.
|