Bronze statue will mark home of golden retriever

Golden retrievers were bred first in Tomich in 1868. Picture: Julie Bull

The famous breed was first created in 1868 at Guisachan Estate in the Inverness-shire village of Tomich, near Cannich.

Dudley Marjoribanks, the first Baron Tweedmouth, crossed a wavy-coated retriever with a Tweed water spaniel. Pups Cowslip, Primrose and Crocus became the foundation of the breed around the world.

Golden retriever lovers are planning a bronze statue for the Victorian conservation village in tribute to the dogs and have raised £14,000 towards the £18,200 cost. Highland planners have now given the proposal the green light.

The statue will be around 5ft 6in tall and will stand on a plinth 3ft high near an existing monument to Lord and Lady Tweedmouth.

The dog chosen as the model for the statue is Michael of Moreton, who was a three-times champion at Crufts. He lived from 1925 to 1934, representing the midpoint of the breed’s development from 1868 to today.

Michael of Moreton was also the sire of numerous champions and became the founder of the breed in Canada and America.

Joy Viola, president of the group Friends of Guisachan, said: “Michael was primarily selected for his beautiful face and expressive eyes, mirroring the golden temperament loved around the world.”

She said owners of the breed hold the Guisachan Estate “in awe”, adding: “Every golden in the world is a Guisachan descendant.”

The organisation has negotiated a 99-year lease for a small plot of land. The lease has been signed and registered with the Land Trust of Scotland, while the charitable fee of £1 a year has been paid in full.

The plot is near the 1910 memorial to Lord and Lady Tweedmouth on the road into the Guisachan Estate.

Essex-based manufacturer Escar UK Bronze has been selected to make the statue.

Highland planners have given the project the go-ahead despite two objections. Fears were raised about the road next to the site and the potential for the narrow route to be blocked by visitors’ vehicles. There were also concerns the plans did not include proposals for drainage.

However, planners said that the memorial was an “acceptable” development. They added that while they did not anticipate a large number of visitors, those who would visit would not stay for a long period of time.

The statue is expected to be in place well before 2018, which will mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the breed.

Friends of Guisachan is a project administered by the Golden Retriever Foundation, a non-profit charitable organisation.