2nd December 1895 House of Glen Albyn Distillery Co.

Here we have one of the most significant structures in the distilling legacy of Inverness: the Glen Albyn Manager's House.

This remarkable building served as the esteemed residence for the distillery manager, and perhaps visiting owners. Over the years, it played host to various dignitaries, including the US Navy, as it became the heart of the first American base established on British soil during World War I.

My fascination with this house stems from its role as a tangible connection to John Birine and his journey between Glen Albyn and Glen Mhor. Recruited from Speyside, specifically Benrinnes, he arrived at Glen Albyn with the mission to revitalise the distillery and restore its tarnished reputation.

Currently, we are uncertain whether John Birnie actually took up residence in the Manager's House. This question will be addressed in the years ahead as our research project gains momentum. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the house was included in the assets when Mackinlay & Birnie acquired Glen Albyn in 1920, making it a significant part of Glen Mhor's history.

What we do know is that this house was the more prestigious of the two Manager's residences associated with the distilleries. In contrast, the Glen Mhor house was located on the bustling Telford Street and lacked the same grand appearance when it was purpose built in 1924, prior to this arrival, the manager and excise offices were housed within the main production building itself, in-between the Kiln and Mash rooms.

Albyn was larger and bore a Victorian architectural style. Previous research indicates that Glen Mhor did not officially occupy the house until 1924 (conveniently when building their own detached office), when John Birnie is recorded as living there in the Burgh records. Also, please note it seems to be now referred to as Glenalbyn House, with the manager emphasis dropped and its status as a directorial station now confirmed. This move across the street by John Birnie, seems more symbolic than practical, as the Birnie family resided at the nearby Balnafettack farm, which still stands. Conversations with the family’s descendants reveal a warm nostalgia for their time at the farm and their visits to the distillery office, which was undoubtedly the Glen Mhor building. 

Was it John who took advantage of the Glen Albyn house, or did he acquire Balnafettack farm shortly after settling in Inverness? Such inquiries swirl in my thoughts. What we do know is that by 1930, the residence was occupied by the esteemed Robert Robertson, a man of considerable standing who surpassed the distillery managers and thus claimed the house as his own. The distilling knowledge in the upper management chain of Mackinlay & Birnie (Glen Mhor, Glen Albyn), would have been exceptional with John and Robert both having decades of distilling experience. Robert resided there until his passing on October 12, 1937, potentially leading to a very unique gravestone in Scotland that notes his wife as having died at Glen Mhor, while he himself is recorded at a different distillery.

Moving onto these plans, the date holds great importance. John Birnie assumed the manager of Glen Albyn role in 1885, a full ten years before the construction began of this house. This suggests that he was likely well-established in the region and may have already acquired the farm by then. Consequently, he probably had little need for a traditional residence, as the building might have been intended to serve more as an administrative hub. See we have answered one of my queries already, as by the time of this submission John had already changed sides. Glen Albyn house was clearly not part of the initial revitalisation of the distillery in the 1880s. 

Knowing what I know of John, he was very formal and a stickler for details, but also didn't like wastage. If he was settled elsewhere, then I'd suggest a Manager's house wasn't top of his wish list for Glen Albyn during his reign.

I'd like to extend my gratitude once more to the Highland Archive Centre in Inverness, the dedicated guardians of these invaluable plans. These documents are an integral part of their extensive collection of planning requests, which were submitted to the Inverness Dean Guild for consideration. The images are watermarked and provided on a non-profit basis. 

The residence would be nestled away the primary production facilities and warehouses, an somewhat shielded from the hustle and bustle of Telford Street, thanks to its front garden and enterance. The most memorable photographs of the house emerge from its time under the care of the US Navy, captured by enthusiastic officers and sailors who, in addition to their standard arms, wielded cameras to document their experiences.

I won't linger too long on this period here, as there's a dedicated page on the Glen Mhor website that I highly recommend exploring. It's a resource I plan to expand upon in the future. If you're intrigued by this era of occupation, I suggest checking out the outstanding work by the Inverness Local History Forum and their publication, The Northern Barrage.

This publication also features a collection of stunning photographs, including the one below that captures the Manager's (or perhaps Admiral's?) House during the First World War, with a flag waving majestically beside it. The original owners of Glen Albyn had no idea, as they submitted their plans, of the remarkable history this house was destined to witness. 

Note the whitewash on the main gate, presumably this used to say Glenalbyn distillery, or words to that effect? I've enhanced the quality of this image using the a.i. tools we have available to us today.

The essence of these plans highlights a renewed commitment to Glen Albyn. The previous proprietors, A.M. Gregory, had already poured resources into revitalising the distillery, achieving a measure of success by the 1880s, thanks in part to John Birnie's contributions. Yet, there remained untapped potential. The submission of these plans signifies a clear intent and confidence; while this new house would not enhance production or storage capabilities, it would certainly be very visible on the main transport route in and out of Inverness. It's prominence would impress visitors and symbolise the distillery's rising prestige.

The timeline of ownership regarding the Glenalbyn Distillery Co. is somewhat ambiguous. Some sources suggest they arrived in 1891, but a local Courier newspaper article from December 14, 1895, indicates that the Glenalbyn Distillery Co. was poised to take control of the site, a claim I find more credible at this point - this is an aspect that further research will clarify.

During this decade, there was undoubtedly a lively discussion among the distilling team. John Birnie sought a stake in ownership, feeling it was a fitting reward for his role in restoring Glen Albyn's reputation, but his request was denied. This refusal ultimately prompted him to leave and establish Glen Mhor in 1892. By the early 1890s, the focus had shifted towards attracting investment and possibly moving to offering shares in the company to interested parties.

Could there also be an element of competitive spirit at play? With a sleek, modern Charles C. Doig distillery rising across the road, did the owners of Glen Albyn respond with their own, even grander vision in 1895 that wasn't squeezed into the main production site? It is literally directly across the road from the Glen Mhor office and main entrance, as you can see from the Canmore photograph below, which was taken in 1985: 

We can highlight some of the key features in the above image:

1. Glen Albyn distillery warehousing, the main production buildings are to the North east of these buildings - even further away from the newly constructed manager's residence. 

2. Glen Albyn Manager's house (or Glen Albyn house as it was known post 1924)

3. Glen Mhor distillery office (built in 1925)

4. Glen Mhor distillery

The Manager's House at Glen Albyn exudes a palpable sense of rivalry, not just in its impressive stature but also in its placement across the street from Glen Mhor. One can imagine the glances cast and sense of being watched, envious of the opulence that Glen Albyn boasts, especially when compared to the more utilitarian Glen Mhor production facility. Daily, both visitors and employees of Glen Mhor would inevitably pass by the striking house, a constant reminder of the competitive spirit that defined the area. The sense of being watched with ease by a rival, eager to note what the newer distillery was doing next.

Even when the distilleries were brought under a single ownership in 1920, the tension between them remained. Mackinlay & Birnie clearly preferred Glen Mhor as their flagship single malt, neglecting to elevate Glen Albyn to a similar level of recognition or promotion.

John Birnie's departure to join the Mackinlay's in their new venture may have been viewed as a betrayal by some at Glen Albyn. Their split was anything but friendly; William Birnie later described it as a 'squabble' in R.B. Weir's 1971 PhD dissertation. It’s likely that the rivalry reached its peak during those early years of the 1900s, and the faint echo of this was still noticeable into the 1970s, but generally the men all worked together. And my research has shown that Glen Albyn ably assisted Glen Mhor for decades, helping it overcome production bottlenecks, such as its limited malting capacity.

The architectural plans reveal a ground floor layout that features a charming front garden and a pathway leading from Telford Street. Upon entering, one is greeted by a lobby that opens into two elegant dining areas, while the service zones are tucked away at the back, housing a kitchen and a scullery.

Interestingly, there is no sample room, which was originally part of Glen Mhor's office design, situated behind the manager's office. This absence gives the Glen Albyn house an air of prestige, reinforcing my current line of thinking. Moving upstairs, the atmosphere shifts to a more residential feel, boasting three spacious bedrooms, two closets, and a bathroom.

I know that Robert Robertson, who called this house home starting in 1930, had children, though his wife tragically passed away at a young age. With further research, we might uncover the histories of previous residents and whether they too had families, or if the house served as a lodge for distinguished guests prior to being acquired by Mackinlay & Birnie in 1920.

Upstairs serves a more residential and familial purpose. It's known that Glen Albyn provided separate cottages for some fortunate employees, indicating that this space was reserved for the manager and his family, as well as visiting dignitaries.

Robert Robertson and his wife had several children and possibly during the 1930s, they grew up on a distillery site and that must have been quite the adventure, especially considering the tales shared by other children who visited Glen Mhor.

During wartime, these quarters likely transformed into accommodations for officers, adding layers of history to the building. For John Birnie, the moment he and his partners acquired the distillery must have been particularly gratifying, especially since he had once been denied a stake in Glen Albyn despite being the manager who played a crucial role in revitalizing its success.

One event led to another, and after leaving to establish Glen Mhor, John returned within 25 years to reclaim his former employer.

We've documented the initial concept for the Manager's House at the growing Glen Albyn distillery. Driven by a surge in whisky popularity and a renewed standing, the distillery was on the brink of a bright future. As we've explored in the plans shared thus far, there is a clear commitment to enhancing its facilities.

Exciting new plans and fresh discoveries lie ahead as we strive to resurrect Glen Albyn through our continuous research efforts.

My thanks to the Highland Archive Centre in Inverness for making these materials available for my research. Their generosity ensures that the wider whisky population can enjoy these resources. Images have been watermarked as agreed.