INTO THE ARCHIVE: Easter Ross woman became guardian of past treasures and preserver of precious heritage
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A HERITAGE campaigner who was among those who helped to save a host of Ross-shire sites and ultimately led a national conservation body, Jane Mary Stow Paterson was born on May 26, 1924, at Ord Farm near Invergordon.
Ord Farm had been tenanted by the Paterson family since 1880. It was bought by Jane’s father William Paterson in the years between the two world wars as the Cadboll Estate was broken up.
During World War II, Jane met Lieutenant Commander Phil Durham while he was on shore leave at the Royal Naval base in Invergordon. Just six weeks after marriage her husband contracted polio, which would cut short their plans of a life travelling the world in the navy.
In 1957 they, moved to Scotsburn Farm, adjacent to where Jane grew up. It was while living there in the late 1960s that Jane had her first experience of campaigning when Ord Farm was proposed to be the site on which the new Invergordon aluminium smelter was planned to be built on.
Unfortunately, that battle was lost and Ord Farm was turned over to British Aluminium.
Having lost her childhood home to the colossal Invergordon smelter, Jane was persistent throughout the rest of her life in preserving the past.
One of her earliest successes was saving the early-19th century Tain Academy building, the school her father attended, from certain demolition.
In the 1970s, Jane, along with a school friend, set up a small restoration business. It was this experience of dealing with the problems and peculiarities faced while restoring old buildings that led to her becoming a valuable member of the Scottish Historic Building Trust.
As an important representative of that group, Jane helped save the Cromarty Old Manse, and she was heavily involved in rescuing much more of Cromarty’s historic architecture with the Cromarty Trust.
Jane had a great fondness of early Christian historic sites, particularly in her native Easter Ross. The carved stones at Shandwick, Hilton of Cadboll, and Nigg, Fearn Abbey, the Old Parish Church at Tarbat, and the Collegiate Church at Tain all have Jane to be thankful for their continued existence.
She was an integral figure in the establishment of a Scottish Redundant Churches Trust.
Between 1984 and 1994, Jane held the role of Commissioner with the Royal Commission for the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. It was a privilege she took great pride in. In 1995 she was appointed MBE for all her achievements in conservation.
On April 1, 1997, Jane Durham passed away, aged 73 – a great loss to the Easter Ross community, and wider society as a whole.
The Highland Archive Centre is selling gift vouchers for those looking for Christmas present ideas this festive season.
“We offer a £30 voucher for one hour of family history research or a £40 voucher for a set of four family history classes,” said a spokesperson.
“These can be purchased and redeemed from anywhere in the world.”
For more information or to purchase a voucher contact 01349 781130 or email genealogy@highlifehighland.com
More fascinating tales from the archive
