Sir John Leng

John Leng came to Dundee from Hull in 1851 to be editor of the Dundee Advertiser (now the Courier). He was also the founder of the Evening Telegraph and the People’s Friend. Between 1889 and 1906 he was Liberal MP in Dundee, and he was knighted in 1893. When he first came to Newport he lived in Wellgate House, now 78 West Road. By 1870 he had amassed enough money to build the mansion of Kinbrae. It was a magnificent house set in equally magnificent grounds, with extensive lawns, fountains, stables and glasshouses.


John Leng the Employer

John Leng was a most enlightened employer, frequently rewarding his employees. This is perhaps best illustrated by the extravagant jubilee fete he hosted at Kinbrae in 1901 to celebrate his fifty years at the helm of the Advertiser. Six hundred guests, employees and their families, crossed to Newport from Dundee on the specially chartered and decorated ‘Fifie’, to enjoy an afternoon at Kinbrae. The visitors were welcomed by Sir John and Lady Leng, they had the run of the extensive gardens, they had a meal with silver service in a marquee, and for entertainment there was the Mars band, a choir and a conjurer.

Sir John Leng is perhaps most widely remembered today for the Leng Medals which are awarded annually to school pupils for solo singing of Scots songs.

Waterstone House

Leng Home and Seymour

John Leng’s son, Dr William Leng, built Waterstone House,  called Highfield at first. When he died in 1952, his family gifted it to Fife County Council as a retirement home. It opened as such in 1955, re-named the Leng Home.

 


John Leng’s older son, John Adam St Quentin Leng, built his home in Newport too. This was Seymour, at the other end of the village. A family home until after World War II, from 1949 until 1989 Seymour operated as the Seymour Hotel, before becoming a care home, first the Seymour, now Riverview Lodge.


The Leng Chapel

The Leng Chapel is on a hilltop, two miles south of Newport. It was built by Sir John Leng between 1895 and 1897 as a memorial to his first wife Emily. This beautiful building has an inscription to Lady Leng on one wall and a memorial to the five Newport men who gave their lives in the Boer War.

For more images relating to Sir John Leng and Kinbrae search our archive.

 

Comments about this page

  • Hi
    I am also a direct descendant of the Leng family and I’d love to be in touch with Alistair who has posted above.
    Is that possible?

    By Anna (20 July 2023)
  • As a direct descendent of the Leng family, I am so grateful to see this incredible history maintained and preserved so that my children and grand children may one day learn about who they are.
    Thank you for the historical preservation and I look forward to visiting Newport one day soon to take a look at the Chapel which I have yet to do.

    By Alistair (16 June 2022)

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