Almondell, Sir Simon Fraser Monument

A sandstone commemorative slab stands at the west end of a wooden footbridge over a rivulet which falls to the River Almond. The slab, which measures 1.46m in height by 0.65m in width and 0.13m in thickness, bears an inscription in incised capitals on its eastern face:

MARGARET COUNTESS OF BUCHAN

DEDICATED THIS FOREST

TO HER ANCESTOR SIR SIMON FRASER

OCTOBER XV

MDCCLXXXIV

Although the lettering is neatly done, the mason has left insufficient space for the first line, so that the last two letters of BUCHAN have been compressed.

Simon Fraser, of Oliver, a prominent figure of the War of Independence, was one of the Scottish commanders at the battle of Roslin, 1303; he was captured in the aftermath of Bruce's defeat at Methven, and was executed in London in September 1306. The countess, Margaret Fraser, daughter of William Fraser of Fraserfield, was the spouse of David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan, founder of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Buchan erected a similar slab, commemorating William Wallace, on the northern approach to Almondell House (see NT07SE38).

The slab has slumped in its setting, and leans to the west.

Information from RCAHMS (IFr, 10 May 2015)