Bridge Of Gaur Hostel – Rannoch Forest
The image of the hostel taken around 1966 is courtesy of Iain Robertson the photo passed on by Duncan Menzies, Banchory.
Duncan comments:
“The photo shows old hostel plus extension which was erected in 1961 to allow for another 6 workers taking total up to 15. The extension even had a shower plus toilet while old building just had a toilet cum bathroom. How did we survive, of course we did!
There was quite a turnaround of workers in the hostel with plough operators, road squad workers and bridge builders often in residence. As I’ve said before I lived in the hostel 1959 to 1963 when I got married, the FC bought Ann and I a house roughly a mile from the hostel. Assistant Forester, Don Lindsey, moved into my room in the hostel. Don left to attend Newbattle Abbey which offered further education. Can’t remember who came in Don’s place.
The hostel closed in 1971 (I had left for Tentsmuir Forest in 1969) Why did it close? I would say the advent of contractors and more ploughing for planting etc saw the demise of the direct labour force in Rannoch Forest as elsewhere. A labour force of over 30 is now down to 2 or 3!”
The attached PDF below shows the prefabricated extension in later years being used (after being moved) as storage shed at the Rannoch Forest base at Dall. The current image shows that the building has fallen on harder times and in quite a poor state.
Many forestry people stayed in these two buildings over the years and it would be good to get comments from some of them on their memories of their times working and living there. The comments boxes are below.
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Groups: Buildings in Forests, Forestry Areas