Col Walter Steuart-Fothringham
Early photograph taken around 1930 from a forestry album of 117 photographs compiled by an unknown Forestry Commission officer. No other information provided.
The owner of Murthly Estate Col Walter Steuart- Fotherington served as a Commissioner with the Forestry Commission from its inception in 1919 until his death in 1936. He is here viewed standing beside a very fine Douglas fir tree on the Estate.
In a report in the Journal of the Forestry Commission (1938) there is a description of a memorial to Col Steuart-Fotherington as follows:
‘‘On Saturday, 11th June, 1938, at the end of the Commissioners’ tour in Scotland, a memorial to Col. Walter Steuart- Fotheringham was unveiled by the Chairman in the presence of members of Col. Fotheringham’s family and others. The memorial, which is placed on a rock
near the roadside on Drummond Hill Forest, takes the form of a
large granite slab bearing the following inscription:
E r e c t e d b y
T h e F o r e s t r y C o m m i s s i o n e r s
i n A f f e c t i o n a t e R e m e m b r a n c e o f
C o l. W a l t e r S c r y m s o u r e S t e u a r t - F o t h r in g h a m
A M e m b e r o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n
f r o m i t s F o r m a t i o n in 1919
t o H i s D e a t h i n 1936
From the road to the edge of the rock, which has a local legendary interest, a crescent-shaped space was cleared. The space in front of the memorial is laid with gravel and between it and the road is a rustic fence. Large plants of Tsuga heterophylla, which was a favourite tree of Col. Fothringham’s, are planted on the sides of the crescent. It is fitting that the interest which Col. Fothringham took in the work of the Commission should be commemorated in this way.’’
Can anyone recall seeing this memorial stone and know of its location?
See the PDF link below.
Steuart –Fothrington memorial plaque 2024
Charlie Tayor (former Forest District Manager – Dunkeld) has provided a set of photographs of the memorial plaque taken in 2024 which shows the setting in Drummond Hill Forest near Kenmore. The high position on the rock face and the abundant ivy growth entailed a bit of a challenge in securing the images!
Download Large Version (795kB)
Groups: Forestry Areas