Genealogy Chat

Does any one know why several Italians settled in the Stirling, Scotland area from about 1900 onwards? It was mentioned on the TV programme last night on BBC2 at 9pm about the 'Lost World of Friese Greene.' Why Stirling (what trade were they mostly all in) and how many settled in the area? How long was there an Italian influence in the area? My birth grandfather was Italian and they went up there in 1936-37 at least and I'd be interested to find out if he still had family (the name was Cabutti) in the area that they went up to stay with. Thanks, Claire

Funny you should say hotel chain. Birth grandfather was a hotelier and chef! I just wondered how so many seemed to congregate in one area and what the attraction was, apart from the wonderful Scottish scenery! Claire

Hi Claire, there are quite a few Italian families in Stirling even today I could say some of the surnames but please dont ask me to type them because I know they aren't spelt the way they're pronounced. There is a chip shop/cafe on the Alloa Road in Causewayhead Stirling called Corrieri 's which is owned by the Corrieri family. My better half is from Stirling and my father in law is friends with the Corrieri's so if you like I will ask him tomorrow about them and other italian families in the town. I will be going up again myself in about 6 weeks and will be going to Corrieri's for a bite to eat.

Sorry Claire.... Gillian, was it the Allan Water Cafe??

I saw the programme last night - my husband was born in Stirlling and one of my work colleagues asked me to check with his elderly uncle in Stirling about her family who originated from Stirling - they originated from Italy, she gave me all the details and if I remember correctly they were something to do with icecream - I think he went round the town with young twins in tow and he was featured in the newspaper, but I cannot remember the name - she didn't know her ancestry. I was going to check it out with hubby's uncle but unfortunately his health deteriorated.

Hi Shaz & Gillian! Thanks for all your help. Carlo wrote his occupation as 'hotel chef' on the 1937 birth certificate so I wonder if he went up to work in a hotel in Stirling? He used to own one in Berkshire and was the chef/manager there. I don't know if your family/friends remember any Italians working in hotels in the area? I think Carlo Cabutti was only possibly up there from 1935-1937, so that was such a short time but I wondered if his family were some of the Italians that were already settled in the area. He originally came from near Turin in Italy. Another name that Carlo could have been friends with was the Marento family, but I've got no idea if they made it up to Scotland as well! Cabutti could well be mistranscribed into Caputti or similar names. The addresses that they were living at were 13 Irvine Place, Stirling and my mum's sister was born at 9 Gladstone Place, Stirling. I don't know if this is in an area where most of the Italian families settled. Thanks for any info on Italian trades etc. in Stirling that may be why they were attracted to the area or on the family name that anyone can find out. Claire

I dont know Gillian and he has gone off to the garage.. lol I will ring in law's in the morning though and ask them.... mil has a really good memory and may be able to help especially as she also has family in Tillicoultry. Got an Aunty Mary too who will be 86 this month and lives in Causewayhead... the wee soul has a memory that puts me to shame (I'm only 38 lol) so I'll ring her too, shes great and gives me loads of Goss from the past. Shaz x

LindyLoo I will also ask Auntie Mary about them to see if she can help in anyway. Whereabouts in Stirling is your hubby from?? Wonder if he knows mine?? lol

Dear Shaz - he is from Causewayhead - Wallace Gardens area - whole family orignated from McColl/Stewart and Young families. Logie was the family church (I have yet to start on his tree). Also, strangely enough, in the 1970's I used to work for Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine in London, Sir Charles Forte was a good friend of the MD and I have fond memories of the MD and Sir Charles coming into the office after a 'late' night out in dark glasses and their crombies looking like the mafia. A bottle of champagne in the freezer for half an hour and business was done! What a small world.

Hi Lindy..... What a very small world indeed. Well my hubby was actually born and bred in Braehead in Stirling but his father is a Causewayhead man. The Surname is Lewis... they lived in one of the Craigbank Cottages, Causewayhead fil's family that is but then they moved into Craig Cresent which is joined onto Wallace Gardens. Logie Kirk = My MIL has been a member of the choir for about 40 years now and is there every Sunday. We often pop into see a lady who lives in Wallace Gardens who has been friends with family forever. I won't stick her name on thread. I also have a photo that was taken around 1901, its a class photo from Causewayhead Primary School, I must drag it out and see if there are any names on it that may belong to your hubby. Shaz x

It was interesting to learn that many settlers in Stirling came from Ireland - Hubbies family also lived in Ireland for some years and then moved back to Scotland and then England. MIL always knew everyone - it seemed to be quite a close community.