I was there approx. 1962-63 after my Father died 1961 we were not very well off I was sent there for a month to give my Ma a break. We lived in Glasgow my School was St Georges Road, it was fantastic my first time away from home the Teachers were brill we used to walk for hours through the forest and hills the wild life was fantastic a big change from the Tenements were we lived, great memories.
I went there in 1968 for a month from North Kelvinside secondary school. Just like in the film, I remember the walks over the hills, nature classes and rambles through the forest, walking to church on Sunday, learning scottish country dancing in hall, bus trip to crinan canal and Lochgilphead. Playing in the gardens and on the hill overlooking village, rolling small tree logs down. I think I stayed in a ground floor room with name ' The flower room'. So many lovely memories.
My mum was evacuated there from Glasgow during WW2. She loved the place. Took us to see it when we were kids. We stayed at Loch Sween caraven park a few times. I love Knapdale now.I took my own kids to see the building five years ago. It was sad to see its decline.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I've not been over there for many years but I heard that the building is now abandoned and semi-derelict. It was such a beautiful building in its day. Built by the Coates family of Paisley as a holiday home/shooting lodge I think. Tragic if it has been left to go to rack and ruin.
This brings back great memories, I worked there as a Community Service Volunteer form October 1976 until it closed in March 1977, I didn't realise then how much it would influence my life, each time I return to the western highlands I always go to see it, last time was just over 3 years ago, it was empty and in danger of becoming derelict which would be such a shame. Thanks for putting this on UA-cam
Yes it was a wonderful place for the kids to go,I went with North Kelvinside Secondary School in 1970/72,Always enjoyed the rambles and someone mentioned about the Pottery and that was a memory jogger.Do you remember the Achnamara song was Come right back by The Honeycombs.You were also allowed to spend so much in the Sweet shop/Post Office in the Village.Big thanks to everyone who made this such a great place.
Thanks so much for your comment. We may have been there at the same time. I was there as a Community Service Volunteer from September 1972 - June 1973. I remember the NK visit during the year that I was there. They were (by far) the best behaved group of youngsters of the entire year. A real pleasure to be with! I remember the trips down to the shop too and the rude comments made by some of the Achnamara children (not the NK group) about the children of the shop owner who they saw as unworldly country types very different from the street-wise ways of the Glasgow boys and girls.
Its possible John,i remember we were take on a day trip to the Crinan Canal and a day in Lochgilphead,I remember my friend buying a record from the record store.
I was there aged 12, summer of '68 for a month, group of us from John Street Sen Secondary Glasgow, I loved it as it was the first time I'd ever been away from home, a great experience for a kid from the city. Great memories.
Thanks for your comment, Alan. You must have been one of the last people to enjoy the experience there as the school started taking primary age children in September 1973 and closed in the Summer of 1977 I think. When I was there it was secondary boys and girls from 12 to about 14 yo
I worked there 9 (aged 18) helping out as a teacher's assistant from Oct 1976 until March 1977, we had to leave as the school was closing, my whole life was influenced by my few short months in this amazing place.
Mine too. I'm retired and 63 years old now and spent virtually my whole career in Social Care until March 2017 when I retired. I would say all my work over those decades was influenced by what I learned at Achnamara - though looking back the regime would be regarded today as very harsh. No-one was allowed a watch so they could tell the time nor were they allowed to listen to the radio - and there was no TV signal to that part of Knapdale at that time. I remember a member of staff telling a pupil who didn't like his meal: "You have a complete choice: you may eat it or eat nothing" Ouch. I guess that would be regarded as child abuse today????
@@johnfaeHuntly Thank you John, I live in Kent now, and planning a trip with the family and may call via Achnamara , working back I think 1974 was the most likely year of my long stay as I recall listening to the womble song in the hall, whilst the letters from home/funds were handed out?
Lovely memories of being their.Must have been 1965ish when it was a residential school for children from deprived homes. Wish I had the money to buy it now and bring it back to its former glory.
I spent a lot of my childhood at Achnamara Residential School. I learned to ride and was taught archery on the front lawn. This was in the 1950s. I was thinking to go back and have a look at the house. I don't know if it still exists or has been demolished. Does anyone know?
spent 2 weeks here before being sent to Glenmore lodge in Avimore while working for the old Strathclyde regional council, Its now lying empty and in a sad state. Remember survival game with the kids aged 14-16, they would go out and we would have to find them, They put logs, signs and bins on the road, to slow us down in the van and 2 were reported missing..never again.
I went there in either 72-73, I think it was 72 as I remember one of the other kids' brother died in the Ibrox disaster (71) and he was sent to Achnamara House as part of his way of dealing with it, allegedly. I went there for three weeks, the first time I had tasted butter. Without a shadow of a doubt, the best three weeks of my childhood.
I was there approx. 1962-63 after my Father died 1961 we were not very well off I was sent there for a month to give my Ma a break. We lived in Glasgow my School was St Georges Road, it was fantastic my first time away from home the Teachers were brill we used to walk for hours through the forest and hills the wild life was fantastic a big change from the Tenements were we lived, great memories.
I went there in 1968 for a month from North Kelvinside secondary school. Just like in the film, I remember the walks over the hills, nature classes and rambles through the forest, walking to church on Sunday, learning scottish country dancing in hall, bus trip to crinan canal and Lochgilphead. Playing in the gardens and on the hill overlooking village, rolling small tree logs down. I think I stayed in a ground floor room with name ' The flower room'. So many lovely memories.
My mum was evacuated there from Glasgow during WW2. She loved the place. Took us to see it when we were kids. We stayed at Loch Sween caraven park a few times. I love Knapdale now.I took my own kids to see the building five years ago. It was sad to see its decline.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I've not been over there for many years but I heard that the building is now abandoned and semi-derelict. It was such a beautiful building in its day. Built by the Coates family of Paisley as a holiday home/shooting lodge I think. Tragic if it has been left to go to rack and ruin.
Was there winter 68 I think it was from govan high school. Had a great time and remember the walks through adder lane I nearby forest. Great fun.
Thanks for that. I have great memories too
This brings back great memories, I worked there as a Community Service Volunteer form October 1976 until it closed in March 1977, I didn't realise then how much it would influence my life, each time I return to the western highlands I always go to see it, last time was just over 3 years ago, it was empty and in danger of becoming derelict which would be such a shame. Thanks for putting this on UA-cam
Yes it was a wonderful place for the kids to go,I went with North Kelvinside Secondary School in 1970/72,Always enjoyed the rambles and someone mentioned about the Pottery and that was a memory jogger.Do you remember the Achnamara song was Come right back by The Honeycombs.You were also allowed to spend so much in the Sweet shop/Post Office in the Village.Big thanks to everyone who made this such a great place.
Thanks so much for your comment. We may have been there at the same time. I was there as a Community Service Volunteer from September 1972 - June 1973. I remember the NK visit during the year that I was there. They were (by far) the best behaved group of youngsters of the entire year. A real pleasure to be with! I remember the trips down to the shop too and the rude comments made by some of the Achnamara children (not the NK group) about the children of the shop owner who they saw as unworldly country types very different from the street-wise ways of the Glasgow boys and girls.
Its possible John,i remember we were take on a day trip to the Crinan Canal and a day in Lochgilphead,I remember my friend buying a record from the record store.
I was there aged 12, summer of '68 for a month, group of us from John Street Sen Secondary Glasgow, I loved it as it was the first time I'd ever been away from home, a great experience for a kid from the city. Great memories.
Thanks vm for commenting. Hope my old slides brought back some memories
i lived there in achnamara from 1984 till 2001, i loved it and its good to see it still not forgotton, macinnes family
I was a guest / resident here in the mid 70's when I was about 10 years old and I have some lovely memories, welly rash and pottery.
Thanks for your comment, Alan. You must have been one of the last people to enjoy the experience there as the school started taking primary age children in September 1973 and closed in the Summer of 1977 I think. When I was there it was secondary boys and girls from 12 to about 14 yo
I worked there 9 (aged 18) helping out as a teacher's assistant from Oct 1976 until March 1977, we had to leave as the school was closing, my whole life was influenced by my few short months in this amazing place.
Mine too. I'm retired and 63 years old now and spent virtually my whole career in Social Care until March 2017 when I retired. I would say all my work over those decades was influenced by what I learned at Achnamara - though looking back the regime would be regarded today as very harsh. No-one was allowed a watch so they could tell the time nor were they allowed to listen to the radio - and there was no TV signal to that part of Knapdale at that time. I remember a member of staff telling a pupil who didn't like his meal: "You have a complete choice: you may eat it or eat nothing" Ouch. I guess that would be regarded as child abuse today????
@@johnfaeHuntly Thank you John, I live in Kent now, and planning a trip with the family and may call via Achnamara , working back I think 1974 was the most likely year of my long stay as I recall listening to the womble song in the hall, whilst the letters from home/funds were handed out?
Lovely memories of being their.Must have been 1965ish when it was a residential school for children from deprived homes. Wish I had the money to buy it now and bring it back to its former glory.
Thanks for watching the video and for commenting.
Went there in 1992 brilliant memories
I spent a lot of my childhood at Achnamara Residential School. I learned to ride and was taught archery on the front lawn. This was in the 1950s. I was thinking to go back and have a look at the house. I don't know if it still exists or has been demolished. Does anyone know?
June Maxwell Nice to hear from you June. I'm pretty sure its still there though I've not seen it for a few years
Hi, yes it is still there but now derelict, sad to see it that way. I attended in '72/ '73 happy memories.
Oh, June, I remember that, and the spear chucking (javelin), on the front lawn. Brilliant.
It's still there, I last was there in Achnamarain August 2021, sadly needs a fortune spent on it but would make a wonderful residence.
Thanks so much for your comments. Were you associated with the residential school or did you live in the Forestry houses?
spent 2 weeks here before being sent to Glenmore lodge in Avimore while working for the old Strathclyde regional council, Its now lying empty and in a sad state. Remember survival game with the kids aged 14-16, they would go out and we would have to find them, They put logs, signs and bins on the road, to slow us down in the van and 2 were reported missing..never again.
Thanks for commenting. I'd heard that the building was now going to rack and ruin. What a shame. Lovely house built by the Coats family from Paisley.
my dad workes as a woodcutter and lives in one of the wood houses.
I went there in either 72-73, I think it was 72 as I remember one of the other kids' brother died in the Ibrox disaster (71) and he was sent to Achnamara House as part of his way of dealing with it, allegedly. I went there for three weeks, the first time I had tasted butter. Without a shadow of a doubt, the best three weeks of my childhood.
It's amazing to hear that Imagen. Thanks so much for your comment: really appreciate hearing from you.