A dapper younger Willie in this photo most likely taken in the 1940's. This photograph was sent to his sisters in Australia and the brother in New Zealand.
James Main (Willies Father) wearing his shoemakers apron buying fish from a fishwife. This area of Stonehaven has hardly changed.
11:45 pm Hogmanay. Residents gathering for the Fireballs and New Years greetings.
Down to gather firewood.
A North sea storm beating into the bay North of the castle.
The herring fleet setting out to sea from Stonehaven harbour.
Note the wrecked Lighthouse. Demolished and replaced with a wall in the 1960's
Note the wrecked lighthouse. Demolished and replaced with a sea wall in the early 1960's
A view down High Street.
Auld Judd repairing his nets at No 2 Old Pier. This is the same building Willie and family grew up in with No1 being the adjoining building.
Between High Street and King Street - Turners Court - now demolished.
Dealing out the mussels for baiting lines. "Auld Jockie Wid" (John Wood) standing at the corner.
Yard off Shorehead. Gable end of No 18 on the left. Later became Burnetts yard and is now the Yacht Club
Cruden Bay village north of Aberdeen.
Junction of Albert Lane and John street. Gable end of 3 the Cross (Willies House). That’s the coal shed at the side of the steps and the living room window at the side. Note also the 1st floor window on the right and the small attic window where painted. All sadly demolished apart from the Auld Toon Clock clearly visible at the rear.
Very old view of Stonehaven looking southwards.
The old Tolbooth on the right. This used to be known as Cowies Court. It has not changed much though the stone steps in the middle have been demolished.
Believed to be the rear of No1 Old Pier with James Main seated attending to his shoe repairs.
Winter on the Shorehead. The first building on the left is now a B&B and the place I stayed while photographing Willies works and the local village in October 2015. This place is nearly unchanged today including the old anchor chains for mooring boats in the harbour.
The first bay south of Stonehaven. The long rock with the two arches is known as Dunnicaer and was a small Pictish Fort. It has only recently been excavated and information can be found on the link below.
One of the few of Willies works done in pastel or crayon. Looking from the Shorehead towards Doonie point.
Out fishing in a cavern south of Stonehaven.
Supposedly a good place for rock fishing just south of Stonehaven. I have since found a photograph of Willie and a friend fishing at this location.
Willies sister Kate, lived here and Willie planted the Nasturtiums before World War 2. Today this is known as Creel cottage and is preserved in the Auld Toon historic area. Willies house, No3 the Cross can be seen to the left. The Nasturtiums are still growing in the same small garden today, some 75 years later.
Kate’s house as photographed by myself in 2015 with Willies Nasturtiums still flowering 75 years later.
The Sundial Cottage (note sundial on right corner of building) Demolished and now 96 High Street.
Old Pier as it was in the early 1900’s and barely changed to this day. These buildings are now in the conservation area and thus protected from any external modifications. Willies house of birth is the building on the left and as stated in the painting of Old Judd, it is attached so units No 1 and No 2 are a single structure.
Looking from Old Hall bay back towards the areas most famous landmark, Dunnottar Castle.
Painted looking back toward the Tolbooth. This has now been back filled and built up and is now a popular walkway between Stonehaven and Cowie.
The herring fleet returning into Stonehaven harbour. This painting highlights Willies great skill in painting water scenes.
Looking from the Backies in to what is now known as Jubilee Court.
Old street scene of John Street. Kate’s house on the RHS. Gable end of the building on the RHS was Main’s fish house and now part of the Ship Inn.
An early crayon or pastel work. This area has been demolished.
The Backies and fishing the Carron river. Site of demolished Water Close houses behind the wall in the middle of the picture.
Now demolished.
View looking back toward the Shorehead with a steam powered vessel moored up to the pier.
Knowles Yard just off High Street.
The ever present Auld Toon Clock appears often in many of Willie works.
Yard between Albert lane and High Street.
Thought to be a view looking back on No 1 Old Pier. Willies birthplace.
Children playing and swimming the Carron river.
Murrays yard parallel to Castle Street.
Lane off Marishall street what is the rear of the Marine Hotel today.
Possibly the entrance to Threadneedle street from High street.
Entering Stonehaven from Netherly Road.
Rear view of the Cross.
Entrance to Knowles Yard on the Right.
Yard off Shorehead. Gable end of No 18 on the left. Later became Burnetts yard and is now the Yacht Club.
Originally thought to be a Lane off Shorehead but more likely off Marishall Street.
The junction of Albert Lane, the Cross and John Street. Features Willies House, 3 the Cross, with the window to the left of the coal shed. Note the slope in front of the window where in days gone bye water would be sloshed out the window from the sink inside. Note the new houses on the left.
Note the sundial on the far right as it still stands today
Looking up Castle Street with the long line being prepared for the next days fishing.
Cottage on the right is 15 Shorehead and now a B&B behind the B&B of 14 Shorehead.
Another scene with the Auld Toon Clock and a fisherman preparing his long line for the next day.
Demolished in the 1960's and rebuilt.
The steps and Gable end of No 3 (Willies house) the Cross straight ahead.
Still a very prominent reminder of the days gone bye. What is now the Ship Inn on the Right Hand side in front of the ramp into the harbour.
Looking down on the harbor from the track behind Shorehead.