The Munros of Pinetown
Their Families, Ancestors and connected families
IF STONES COULD SPEAK
A black granite obelisk, quite near to the Blackhall memorial bears the
inscription: In affectionate remembrance of Alexander Diack Thorpeville
Kemnay who died 15th Feb 1907 aged 69 his sons John Randolph died 7th
Aug 1887 aged 18 Benjamin Emslie died 10th May 1904 aged 28 his
daughters Mary died 2nd April 1880 aged 6 Isabella Ann died 9th Nov 1883
aged 11and his wife Isabella Adam died 24th Sep 1911 aged 74 "Until the
day break" DIACK.
Alexander Diack was among the first of the Diack family who travelled
from Rayne to work in the quarries in the Kemnay area, being firstly
employed in the quarries on Leschangie hills before moving to the
quarries on Paradise Hill.
In common with many other quarriers, he was soon to acquire a plot of
land in the village on a 99 year building lease. This plot of land lay
at the foot of the right hand side of High Street and extended along it
for 170 feet (51.82m), 65 feet (19.81m) along Aquithie Road, 170 feet
along the boundary with the Village Hall and 105 feet (32 m) along the
east boundary. On this plot he initially erected a building (facing on
to Aquithie Road) which could accommodate three commercial units with
domestic accommodation above. The unit next to the Village Hall was
leased by a shoemaker and the area between the new building and the
boundary was filled in with a building which became the shoemaker's
workshop. Another extension was built at the High Street end and this
latterly housed what was Lingard the butcher's business.
Around the beginning of the 20th century a building was erected which
housed a tailor's business ran by a son of Alexander Diack, James Adam
Diack, now occupied by the Hair Shop. The building was further extended
in the 1970s, to its present size, by Bill Gauld who was at that time
running a newsagents business there. This portion is now home to Coco's.
Another small building was erected on the boundary next the village hall
which for many years housed the village chip shop. The original purpose
of this building was as a meeting place for the Plymouth Brethren, of
which religious persuasion the Diack family were members.
KEMNAY NEWSLETTER
Issue 443 April 2017