The Spanish Gordon Family Today
Gonzalez Byass Bodega in Jerez
Gabriel Gonzalez-Gordon Gilbey
Gabriel and Mauricio,
descendents of John David Gordon of Wardhouse.
Manuel Maria Gonzalez Angel
founder of Gonzalez Byass Bodega
Victor Ramos Catalina Y Gordon
Alfonso Gordon Sanchis
Baron de Borriol; son of the Conde de Mirasol
The Spanish Gordons at Beldorney Castle
with Mr Jolyon Robinson
Christina Gordon Sanchiz
Wardhouse or Gordon House Today
The Grandaughter and Great
Grandchildren of Rafael Gordon
survey the ruins
Ten Spanish Gordons at Wall-a-Kirk, Glass
Wardhouse Farm with Norman and Annie Smith
At Beldorney Nairn where Rafael died
The Gordon Sanchiz meet the Catalina Gordon Family at Gordon 2000
The Marquis of Huntly meets Victor Ramos Catalina y Gordon
at Gordon 2000
Alfonso Rafael Gordon Sanchiz y Wardhouse
Born 23 July 2001
October 2001 the three Alfonso Gordons
First Conde de Mirasol
Governor of Puerto Rico & Defender of Bilbao
James Arthur Gordon
b Jerez 1759 d 824
The Gordons in Spain
The Historian J.M.Bulloch wrote an article on the Gordons in Spain in
1908 and most of our knowledge relies on his scholarly research. His article is
beautifully written and conveys a warm regard for the Spanish Gordons; it does however end
with the sad death of Rafael Gordon, laird of Wardhouse and Conde de Mirasol
suddenly on August 1st 1934 at Beldorney in Nairn.
The Gordon Spanish connection was forged by John David Gordon in the 18th
Century who settled in Jerez and with his Uncle Arthur began to make a fortune and a name
in the Sherry industry. It was this John David Gordon who donated £1000 of the £1500
needed to build St Margaret’s Chapel in Huntly in 1934 as the first Post Roman
catholic Emancipation Church built with a steeple. Later 7 paintings possibly by Jose
Maria Romero and an altar were sent but more of them soon.
When Rafael died in 1934 he left a widow and daughter according to
Bulloch and the story closes. The sad nature of events is increased by the fact that all
that is left in the cemetery at Wall-a-kirk is a simple wooden cross with no mention of
Rafael save the plaque to commemmorate the burial of previous Spanish Gordons there.
There is however a happy ending to the story although it has taken the
time since the regime of Primo de Riviera, through Franco till Juan Carlos for the Spanish
Gordons to be traced to their descendents in Spain today.
The present Conde de Mirasol lives in Seville and Madrid and his son
Alfonso the Baron de Boriol lives and works in Seville. He is to be married in June and
intends visiting Scotland.
Gabriel Gonzalez-Gordon Gilbey lives in Jerez and is active in the
Sherry Trade internationally as head of Gonzales Byass.
Mauricio Gonzalez-Gordon Diez, the Marques de Bonanza lives in Jerez
and is a retired past President of Gonzalez Byass.
Victor Ramos Catalina y Gordon lives in Jerez and his daughter Myriam
visited St Margaret’s Chapel and Wardhouse last year.
As heads of their respective families these men can all claim a Spanish
Gordon connection and their family trees all trace back to the earliest of the Spanish
Gordons.
ST
MARGARET’S CHURCH HUNTLY - THE SPANISH CONNECTION
During the past week various events have been taking place
commemorating the connecting between the Spanish Gordons and the town of Huntly.
Particularly significant in these commemorative events are the celebrations concerning St
Margaret’s Church and the Spanish Gordons.
On Friday there was an Organ Recital in St Margaret’s, in the
presence of the Bishop and the Vicar General, given by Judith Fellowes -Gordon, who was married to the late Ian Douglas Fellowes - Gordon, 18th Laird of Knockespoch.
Mrs Fellowes - Gordon is the
Organist of Rhynie Parish Church but continues her studies at Aberdeen University with Dr
David Smith, an Oxford scholar and musician.
Among those attending the recital were members of the Gonzales
family(of Gonzales Byass Sherry fame, mentioned in last November’s Newsletter) from
Jerez de La Frontera. They are related to the benefactor John David Gordon who supplied
money to build St Margaret’s Chapel in Huntly.
Also attending were members of the Gordon -Sanchiz
families who are direct descendants of the Gordon family that owned Wardhouse, Beldorney
and Kildrummy at one stage losing the property due to the Spanish Civil War c.1934.
At a special sung Mass on Sunday 6th August Senor Victor Ramos
Catalina y Gordon attended with his family. In total 17 members of the Spanish
Gordons attended the Organ Recital and special Mass in the splendour of the beautiful
Church in Huntly so generously supported by their ancestors.
St Margaret’s Church was opened in 1834, and the chapel was
dedicated to St Margaret Queen and Patroness of Scotland. The form of the Church is
octagonal, with a beautiful front facade surmounted by a spire, terminating in a crown and
a cross. St Margaret’s was also the first chapel in Scotland after the Reformation to
have a bell. In 1840, the altar piece and the paintings, which can still be seen, arrived
from the Gordon family of Jerez in Spain.
The interior of the church was redecorated between 1894 and 1908, and
remained the same until the recent restoration. In 1993 St Margaret’s celebrated the
900th Anniversary of St Margaret of Scotland.