Orkney Image Library

i think this house will be, claypits orphir, own now by mr george coghill, and possibly still in queen st orphir. date?

I am wondering whether W. Garden was my great-uncle? my great-grandfather was robert garden snr and this presumably is his second son. The other son was my grand-father who went to new zealand in 1914.

Any information would be greatly appreciated ... I am doing research for a biography on my father Oscar Garden who became a pioneer aviator.

Claypits was the post office in Orphir when I was a small boy. It was run by a Mrs Harcus or Harkness. It was in the small building on the left. Later the post office moved to Acla beside the new school.

Yes, it was the post office. The name was Harcus, William Harcus was my uncle, he married Mrs Coghill and it would appear the present owner is her son, or grandson, from her previous marriage.

Mrs William Harcus to be exact Chris.

Does anybody know any more about the history of the building / shop. I believe my Grandmothers folks lived there but not sure of the date, They were William Reid Morrison and (nee) Wilhelmina Topp Guthrie.

Gordon, are we related. My great uncle William Garden married Barbara Catherine Sinclair in Kirkwall 23/12/1903. This shop is one of William's, presumably built by my great grandfather, Robert Garden.

Mary, Sorry I am not aware of a Barb Cath Sinclair in my tree. Grandfather Sinclair and his siblings and ancestors were from the, "Quoys", in Holm. Regards, Gordon.

This building was known as the canteen in wartime. i remember it as a post office and Bella o'the post office as a very kind person. Me and my brother went in by her every day off the school bus for lemonade and a sweetie or toast so that we wouldn't cross the road behind the bus.

Bella and Willie were our neighbours. We got to "help" in the Post Office. Your cousins were across the road then, Olivia. We have a photo somewhere of Rover, their dog, outside the house. Happy memories.

it's a grand photograph for the period

This building is still standing much the same as it was in this photo. It's just to the east of the "center" of Orphir on the A964, north side. (ref: google street view)