Historic Houses of Largs
This is a series on the Historic Houses of Largs. The notes are taken from a talk given by our Secretary, Fiona Williamson in 2024.
Here she looks at the history of the houses/estates and the people who lived in them.
1. Brisbane House
Brisbane House, formerly called Kelsoland, was situated in the Brisbane Glen, near Largs. James Brisbane of Bishoptoun acquired the house and estate in 1672 and it remained in the Brisbane family for a further 260 years. The house was originally built in 1636 and was four stories high with three gables. The house was symmetrical with the front door below the middle gable and three rows of windows on either side, with two additional wings built at a later date.
Thomas Brisbane 1 (1688-1760), was born in 1688 at Brisbane House, Largs, son of John Shaw Brisbane and Margaret Stewart. In 1715 Thomas married Isabella Nicolson (1690-1725). Thomas and Isabella had the following six children; Thomas Brisbane 2 (1720-1812), Isabella Brisbane (1725-1884), Mary Brisbane (1731-1807), Helene Brisbane (1733-1766), Admiral John Brisbane (1735-1807) and D’Arcy Brisbane (1736-1810).
Thomas Brisbane 2 (1720-1812) was born at Brisbane House, Largs. On 31 March 1771 Thomas married Eleanor Bruce (1741-1823). Thomas and Eleanor had the following three children; Mary Brisbane (1772-1855), Thomas Brisbane 3 (1773-1860) and Michael Brisbane (1774-1821).
The most prominent member of the Brisbane family was Sir Thomas Brisbane 3 (1773-1860) (see above photo) who was born at Brisbane House on 23rd July 1773, the son of Thomas Brisbane and Eleanor Bruce. Thomas was a British Army Officer and from 1st December 1821 until 1st December 1825 he served as 6th Governor of New South Wales, Australia. The city of Brisbane in Queensland is named after him.
Thomas married Anna Maria Hay Makdougall (1786-1862) the daughter of Sir Henry Hay-Makdougall, 4th Bt of Alderston, of Makerstoun near Kelso, on 15th November 1819 at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. On his marriage, Thomas added Anna’s surname to his own and thereafter became known as Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane. Thomas and Anna had the following four children; Isabella (1820-1849), Eleanor (1823-1852), Thomas (1824-1849) and Henry (1826-1826). On returning to Scotland the family spent time at Largs and also at Makerstoun.
Thomas Brisbane was a keen scientist and an astronomer. He built observatories at Parramatta, Sydney, at Brisbane House, Largs and at Makerstoun, near Kelso, Roxburghshire. Sir Thomas is remembered for building the Brisbane Academy in Largs, presenting Broomlands to the people of Largs and for dividing land into separate feus which were then available for purchase, allowing the town of Largs to prosper and grow. Thomas died at Brisbane House, Largs on 27th January 1860 and he is buried in the Brisbane Vault, Old Parish Church Graveyard, Largs.
Thomas Jackson (1809-1863), an ironmaster and his wife Jean Baird (1904-1882) and their family rented Brisbane House for a few years after the deaths of Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane and Lady Anna Makdougall Brisbane. Thomas Jackson died at Brisbane House on 8th July 1863. Two years later their daughter Jessie Jackson (1837-1924) married John Mann Thomson (1835-1899) at Brisbane House on 1st June 1865.
Since Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane’s four children had all predeceased him the estate passed to his cousin’s grandson, Charles Thomas Brisbane (1844-1916).
Charles Thomas Brisbane was born on 19th September 1844 in Dover, Kent.
Son of Major Charles Baillie Brisbane (1800-1844) and Charlotte Maria Barrett-Lennard (1805-1884).
Grandson of Rear Admiral, Sir Charles Brisbane (1769-1829), governor of St Vincent (1808-1829) and Sarah Patey (1767-1838).
Great grandson of Admiral John Brisbane (1735-1807) and Mary Young (1735-1817).
On 15th June 1869 Charles Thomas Brisbane married Florence Frances Henrietta Tatham (1848-1928) at All Saints, Notting Hill, London.
In 1871 Charles T Brisbane (26), Florence (23) and four domestic servants were living at Brisbane House. In the 1881 census, Charles (36), a landed proprietor and Justice of the Peace, Florence (34) and six domestic servants were at Brisbane House. Charles became Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire and took an active interest in managing the Brisbane Estate affairs. Charles and Florence Brisbane resided at Brisbane House for over fifty years.
In 1911 Charles Brisbane (66) and Florence Brisbane (64) and four servants were living in Brisbane House which had twenty four rooms. Charles died at Brisbane House in 1916, as they had no children, the estate then passed to their niece, Miss Florence St Aubyn (1856-1932).
Daughter of Col Lionel St Aubyn (1832-1888) and Charlotte Anna Maria Brisbane (1837-1911).
Granddaughter of Major Charles Baillie Brisbane (1800-1844) and Charlotte Maria Barrett-Lennard (1805-1884).
Florence St Aubyn was born in Malta in 1856, she grew up in Buckinghamshire and then lived in London until 1916 when she moved to Brisbane House, Largs and changed her name to Florence St Aubyn-Brisbane. The estate was sold after Miss Florence Brisbane died in 1932 and the house was eventually demolished in 1941.
All that remains of Brisbane House now is the ruined observatory (see above photograph taken in 2023) and the old orangery or conservatory situated in the walled garden.