Family History - Murray Usher Foundation

Born in London on 5th February, 1903, Mrs Murray Usher was a descendent of James Murray Usher of Cally and Broughton who had acquired and built the Cally Estate and was influential in Gatehouse of Fleet being built as a planned town. As a child, and during her adolescence, Mrs Murray Usher spent time in Gatehouse of Fleet with her grandfather, James William Baillie, who had inherited the estates of Cally and Broughton from a cousin in 1904. As part of the arrangements for that inheritance the name ‘Murray’ was added and retained on Mrs Murray Usher marrying Neil John William Heriot Usher in 1929. Mrs Murray Usher’s father became the owner of the combined estates in 1906 following upon which the estate of Broughton was sold. Mrs Murray Usher became the owner of Cally Estate, extending to over 40,000 acres, in 1924 on the death of her father.

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Betty Murray Baillie in 1917

During her lifetime she was closely involved in farming and the hotel business although, over the years and principally to assist with finances, the estate itself was gradually and very significantly reduced in size. The Forestry Commission was one purchaser which acquired huge tracts of land, including large areas of upper moorland. Mrs Murray Usher’s many accomplishments included establishing the first venue in the town for Tourist Information and serving on the Town Council. An OBE for public services in Scotland was awarded to Mrs Murray Usher in December, 1982.
Mrs Murray Usher died in 1990 survived by her only child, her son, James, and by her grandson, Peter, and her granddaughters, Rozanne and Diana, and their respective children.