Coshieville On Song
‘Coshieville’ is derived from the mediaeval mendicant monk St Ceddi’s name, coupled with the anglicised rendering of the Gaelic ‘bhaile’. It was a ‘Kingshouse’, occupied by officers of General Wade’s road-making force during the 18th century. The track over which he built his ‘highway’ followed an old cattle droving route to the ford of Lyon at nearby Comrie Castle.
Historically, a fair was held at Coshieville on the last Thursday of October, and another one in December to sell cattle and sheep reared in the district. Situated at the junction of routes from Loch Tay and Fortingall to the west and Schiehallion, Foss and Tummel to the north, the Coshieveille gathering and roistering spot was successively a tavern, an inn, and an hotel.
‘The Coshie’ entered folklore via a song written by Stuart Macgregor and recorded by Archie Fisher. It melodically relates a tale of carelessly abandoned fledgling love experienced at the inn by a seasonal worker during the hydro electric scheme boom years of the 1950s.
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Frontage extensions were carried out by owner Leon Lugowski, who also added the ornate porch. This was reclaimed from a house in Foss which was demolished for flooding during hydro-electrification.
Remaining today ‘in the hospitality industry’, Coshieville House is now a private residence offering B&B. Its adjacent steadings have been the recent object of sensitive renovation and conversion by AKG Homes.
The original Wade’s Kingshouse was probably on the eastern roadside (behind the petrol pumps in the photo below) rather than in among the westerly complex,. The main part of this was the original farmhouse, and its outbuildings constitute the Dewar’s Steading conversions (see below).
Aerial photo by courtesy of Mrs Bella Dewar
Honesty = Win/Win All Round
The Douthwaite family relocated to Fearnan from Blackburn in Lancashire back in 1978. Following four years of semi-retirement with Kath running her B&B, Alan resumed his building activities, in a modest way by tackling house extensions, plant work and contract work with several new-build projects around the Upper Tay area.
In the late 1980’s his ‘fuse was properly lit’ when he undertook a number of prestige restorations of properties in a development at Lawers.
Their son Glenn, a 7 year old wippersnapper in ’78 grew with – and into - the business during the ensuing years. Labouring weekends and school holidays to help the expanding enterprise, he took in at his dad’s side all aspects of the theory and practice of building and vernacular restoration. He could scarcely wait to quit school at 15 and get to college to secure his trade certificates.
In 1994 the family founded AKG Homes and Glenn became a full partner with his role in the operation covering day-to-day on site management and sales. The company set about establishing a reputation for construction excellence in developing individual, bespoke dwellings.
“We tend to complete one house at a time, from founds to fitting out. Over the years we have surrounded ourselves with a team of high quality and respected sub contractors,” explained Alan. “We keep them sweet, they work with us repeatedly and the client gets an exceptional product with no corners cut.”
Alan, who is the team co-ordinator and has responsibility for land purchase, keenly stressed that the cornerstone of AKG Homes’ dealings with clients over land matters is honesty. The evidence - and the dividend - of this shows in the company’s waiting list of clients.
Affiliated to the Master Builders Federation, the company holds the National House Builders Certificate (NHBC) in recognition of its high standards of workmanship
No Snagging
Kath, who manages all the administration for the company, told Comment “There is no mystery to the success of AKG. We remain focused on the customer, use the best possible materials in each build project and we complete on schedule.”
Highland Perthshire is now speckled with examples of the company’s handiwork. “By the approach that we adopt, both our efficiency and our reputation are increased. Our goal each time is ‘no snagging’. With the high customer satisfaction that this brings, we can then give our full attention to the following project, and our previous customers become our best marketing references” said Glenn.
AKG Homes is presently working at Dewar’s Steading at Coshieville, some six miles west of Aberfeldy. AKG has endeavored to keep as many of the original features as possible, to preserve the true ambiance of the original steadings.
Valerie Fleming of Aberfeldy-based CKD Galbraith, which acts as agents for this development, told Comment: “We have had a long and happy relationship with AKG Homes and with the most recent success story at Dewar’s Steading. The sale of number three is now completed.
“The final phase of this prestigious development is still to come with numbers 4 and 5 scheduled for early next year.”
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