Strichen viaduct to the B9093: The French Farm

Grey Granite walked along the Line from Strichen viaduct to the B9093 where she turned off to Howford Farm, 'The French Farm'. There is a pleasant walk along the bank of the Ugie back to Strichen from the farm. Alternatively one may cross the bridge below the farm and follow the old Peterhead to Banff coach road up to the Skillymarno Road, returning to Strichen via the kirkyard. MacFarlane writing in 1723 (Description of the Parish of Strichen) mentions that there was a bridge 'for those on foot only at Howfoord,  (sic) where there was also a ford'.The existing bridge was constructed in 1777. 



Cherry blossom at Strichen Station

The wet area of ground under the viaduct, close to the Ugie, has huge patches of exquisite wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa)

There is a large patch of snake's heads (Fritillaria meleagris) by the  large pond under the viaduct. These have almost certainly  been planted

There are currently many violets in flower along this section of Line

Howford, seen from the Line.

The rather imposing new house behind the trees on the left of the picture replaced  the original  early 19th century farmhouse, built  for Louis Servan, a French emigre.   This building, seen to the  right of the silage tower, is now a much decayed  ruin, used as a store but  still showing its former elegance.  Its rounded corners, arched windows, tiny pavilions and back courtyard are in complete contrast to  the traditional foursquare granite farmhouses of Buchan.

Little definite is known of Louis Servan, beyond that he died in 1834 , is buried in the old Strichen Parish Church kirkyard and married twice. His first wife, Mary Black died on 8th March 1814, Servan died,aged 80,  on 8th December 1834 at Howford and was survived by his second wife, Mary Keith.

Mrs C.J.  Thomson, in her memoir of Strichen in the 19th century,  'Around the White Horse' mentions an old Frenchman, Louis Survanne (sic) whose politics were of the Ancien Regime. Dr Gavin, Mrs Thomson's  father introduced Servan to a visiting Prussian who firstly   affected to be  a Republican and had a violent disagreement  with Servan. The Prussian then reappeared disguised as his own brother  and had another long political discussion this time  agreeing with Servan. This incident had a profoundly disturbing effect on Servan who had to be escorted home and died shortly afterwards. This suggests that Servan may have fled France during the Revolution  (1789-1799).  However, Jean Scott, niece of Lorna Moon (Nora Low) in a 1948 broadcast for the  BBC French Service, quotes, but gives little credence to, the legend  that Servan helped  the Laird of Strichen escape from a band of French soldiers, members of Napoleon's Army, against whom he was fighting in Spain. According to this particular version of events the laird, his henchman having been killed,  surrendered to the French in order to avoid capture then persuaded Servan to help him escape. As a reward for his help the Laird promised the impoverished Servan a house and land back in Strichen. On their safe return  laird built the 'French House' for Servan and according to the story it was in honour of his escape from Spain that the white horse on Mormond Hill was constructed. Coincidentally Jean Scott was a member of the French Resistance in World War 2.