A Journey Through Time: The Story of Brewery Cottage ...
Built shortly after 1865, The Brewers Cottage (originally known as Brewery Cottage) was born out of Lord Tweedmouths attempt to reform a local rogue. Its first inhabitant was the colourful John Fraser, a legendary illicit whisky distiller who had many a brush with the law. In an effort to turn John toward a legal trade, Lord Tweedmouth built the village brewery and provided this very cottage to house him as the official brewer.
John’s stay was brief but dramatic. By 1869, he reportedly fled or was chased out by Lord Tweedmouth after eloping under the cover of darkness with a girl from Cannich—against her parents' wishes.
While John vanished into local lore, his father Donald remained until 1872.
Later, the cottage became home to Duncan Kennedy, a retired gamekeeper from Cougie until his passing in 1939. Duncans sister Dolly also lived in the cottage.
The cottage has evolved with the centuries, original drawings from the Elgin Heritage Centre show that the house once faced the opposite way toward the brewery. What is now our modern wet room was the original front door, and the lounge stairs once led to two simple roof-space bedrooms, each with its own fireplace.
We consider ourselves merely the current guardians of this storied home. We are always looking to piece together more of its journey, and we warmly welcome any stories or historical information our readers might wish to share.
The Brewers Cottage. Tomich, Near Cannich, Inverness-shire. IV4 7LY
STL Number HI-50494-F
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