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LOCAL INDEX Location Official Web Site
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"Inverlair House" near Roy Bridge, Scotland (Taken in 2011) |
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Fort William was named for Prince William, the son of Edward ??, when a garrison was established there to try and contain the Highlanders during the Rechabite rebellion.
LOCHABER District: Includes -
Glengarry Mansion: includes Glengarry Castle that was ...
KILMONIVAIG Parish: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43452
From: 'Kilmarnock - Kilspindie', A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland (1846), pp. 42-61.
see "Kilmonivaig (New Statistical Account, 1842)." Parish Report
http://www.clan-cameron.org/cam-ref.html
From: Clan Cameron Reference Guide
"Confluence of the Lair." Located near Tulloch in Glen Spean.
(Inverlair Lodge lies about one mile west of Tulloch station, and half a mile south of the A68.)
Roy Bridge, Tulloch, Inverlair in Lochaber District & Corrour (in another district) were all part of extensive lands held by the Macdonells of Keppoch.
Also a reference to "Allan Macdonell of Collachie (Culachy) and Alexander Macdonell of Aberchalder… Macdonells of Glengarry and Keppoch all were a part of Clan Donald"
http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk & Inverlair
Summary Notes - Inverlair from the late 18th century.
http://www.jamesirvinerobertson.co.uk/JRJL454647.pdf
James Robertson's Journal 1835 (p53 reference to Inverlair and Braes of Lochaber, Poem of the Combachaig)
TIMELINE FOR INVERLAIR ESTATE & FARM - List of References
1663: - Keppoch Murder Reprisals:
http://beingfreescotland.blogspot.com/2009/10/well-of-seven-heads.html
"The killers were well known, Alexander Macdonald and his six sons from Inverlair, near Roy Bridge…"
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/albyne/chapter4.htm
"The conspirators expected an avenging party to come from Glengarry…"
In "Mountain, Moor and Loch" a slightly different story is told of the Keppoch murders.
http://www.archive.org/details/mountainmoorloch00londrich
From: "Google Books - Mountain, moor and loch" (1894)
In 1663, two boys, Alexander and Ranald McDonell. who were educated in France, returned and invited their 7 cousins to a feast. The cousins resented their education and inheritance and killed them.
Ian Lom went to Lord McDonnell and was given permission, along with 50 men to revenge the killings. He returned to Keppoch House (which was in Roy Bridge) and killed the seven, taking their heads to Glengarry and washing them in the well (now know as the well of seven heads).
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/inverness/
From: "History of Inverness-shire"-
Contains reference to story of killings, etc.
"The Well of the Heads and Other Tales of Scottish Clans" by Stuart McHardy
P183-187 The Well of the Heads - a slightly different interpretation of the events in Inverlair after a commission was given on 29th June, 1665.
18th CENTURY HISTORY - References
1767: http://her.highland.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid='MHG51255'
There is a map of Inverlair Township at Archives of Scotland.
Grid Reference: NN 31806 80505
Map Sheet: NN38SW
Civil Parish: KILMORACK
Geographical Area: LOCHABER
Monument Types: TOWNSHIP ((between) 17th Century to 19th Century - 1700 AD to 1850 AD)
1780: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/inverness/chapter8.htm
Donald Macdonell sold at the Fortingall Fair, November, 1780, two goats, one white with a black head, the other grey; and the sale of the goats being there challenged by Donald Macnab in Inverlair, alleging they had been stolen from him, he, Donald Macdonell, to hush up the matter, paid Macnab more than their value.
1791-99: www.archive.org/stream/.../grampiansdesola00campgoog_djvu.txt
From: "The Grampians Desolate - A Poem", and other writings." By Alexander Campbell. 1804
p271 - p283 Notes on experiments and suggestions to improve highland farms.
Note: This link is a text version that can be copied into wordpad. For the .pdf version search for the title.
Alexander Campbell, deputizing for his nephew Captain McDonell - the Duke of Gordon's factor - experimented with changes to the practices, rents and system of farming. At that time he reported there were 38 sub-tenants on the 4 farms. At the time he reported there were 38 sub-tenants on the 4 farms.
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Clianaig & Monessi |
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Achnacoichean |
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Inverlair |
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(Added Note 1: He consulted with Alexander McNab of Lochaber, who basically told him he was wasting his time in trying.)
(Added Note 2: He observed on p262 - "The harrows were tied to the tails of the horses - I had heard of such a thing but I believed it improbable. Seeing however, is believing. The fact is certain.")
(Added Note 3: He also made the argument that 2 horses were better than four and that there were way too many horses in Scotland that were eating the pastures where cattle could be grazing.)
1799: Captain McDonell returned from military service in Malta. He was told by Campbell that the Duke of Gordon, rather than evicting his sub-tenants, reduced their rents by one quarter. This, he said, was to reduce the financial load so they could work their farms more effectively. The increase in productivity more than compensated the Laird for the lost rents.
(Added Note 1: He explained to Captain McDonell - "many of them fought with your grandfather in Colluden")
(Added Note 2: In "Return to Lochaber" the author, Stewart McDonald, claimed (p219) that the factors of Gordon were responsible for evicting tenants from the slopes of Beinn Chlianaig. Does this conflict with the 1799 note above?)
19th CENTURY HISTORY - References
1818: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/636208?UserKey=0
( or search keppoch & inverlair & cairn & skeleton)
A cairn, which was excavated in 1818 by a local doctor, marks the grave containing seven headless skeletons in Inverlair's gardens.
1834: http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/inverlair.htm
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/gardens/
"It (Inverlair Estate) was bought, along with Corrour, as part of the Duke of Gordon's Loch Treig estatesby John Walker of Crawfordton in 1834."
Acreage - Corrour and/or Loch Trieg = 52,000, Inverlair = 21,000
From: "Loyal Lochaber and its associations historical, genealogical, and traditionary" By William Drummond Norie, Alice C. MacDonell Page 406
References to purchase of Inverlair Estate by Col Walker.
From: "A key to the Irish question: mainly compiled from the speeches and writings ... By J. A. Fox" Appendix - "The Great Landowners of the Highland"
(Google search - A key to the Irish question & inverlair & The Great Landowners of the Highland)
Reference to the size of very large landowners.
Col. Walker of Inverlair 71,000 acres (approx; 110 sq miles)
Col Davidson of Tulloch 36,000 acres
1836: http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/inverlair.htm
The 5th Duke of Gordon, the previous owner, died
1841: (see Kilmonivaig census)
1843-1854: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Potato_Famine
The great potato famine affected the highlands
1846: http://www.allanclan.com/Familytree/1805-Andrew-24.htm
Andrew & Catherine Allan & Family moved to Inverlair Farm
1846-1851: (see Kilmonivaig census below)
Children on Inverlair Farm were home schooled by live in Tutor.
1847: From: "Victoria in the Highlands" by David Duff.
(A collection of Queen Victoria's Journal entries. pp72-74)
Queen Victoria visited 'Ardverikie' on Loch Laggan, with her husband and 2 children.
She travelled on her yacht and disembarked at Fort William and riding in a carriage along Glenspean to Loch Laggan. (She stayed at 'Ardverikie for a month of much rain and gales. Prince Albert hunting and visiting the New Caledonian Canal.)
http://www.allanclan.com/History/FamilyLetters/AllanLetters1.htm
see: Letter from Andrew to his father 1847. He acknowleged they saw Queen Victoria when she came to their area. The locals complained she did not look regal at all. She was wearing a straw hat, rather than her crown.
1851: http://www.freecen.org.uk/ … (use form to set name & criteria)
Kilmonvaig Census - Apart from the Allans there was another family of the Game Keeper, a housekeeper, Groom, Tutor, 2 shepherds.
http://www.theshipslist.com (search Thetis & 1851)
Richard Allan left for Australia on the "Thetis".
1854: http://www.theshipslist.com (search "David Allan & 1854 & Melbourne)
David Allan left for Australia on the "Oliver Lang".
1857: http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/inverlair.htm
Colonel John Walker died and his son Colonel Sir George Gustavus Walker (1830-97) inherited his estates.
"The mid-19th century growth in the popularity and accessibility of Highland field sports (the de-restriction of game hunting which had previously been limited to the landowner and his first-born son) led to the construction of a shooting lodge and income from the lease of sporting rights. Walker made Old Corrour Lodge habitable, built a new lodge at Inverlair sheltered by European larch..."
1860: http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/inverlair.htm
Inverlair Lodge (center section) was extended for use as a Hunting Lodge.
http://www.theshipslist.com (search Andrew Allan & 1860)
Andrew & Catherine Allan left Inverlair for Australia on the "Lord Raglan".
1880: http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/inverlair.htm
Inverlair Lodge (left section) was extended
1887: http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924012179804
From: "Annual report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, Volume 6" By Scotland. Fishery Board", published in 1887
Fisheries Board considered use of fish ladders around Mousserie and Inverlair Falls to aid salmon migration. The report stated that at the time "Colonel Walker owned both sides of the Spean between the two falls."
From: "The Salmon Rivers of Scotland" by Augustus Grimble 1899
(originally published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company. London) Pages 217-218
Report states in part that both sides of the Spean from the Mounessie Falls to Inverlair Falls are owner by Col Walker of Inverlair. The Spean is fed by the Gublin & Trieg Rivers.
1890: From: "A key to the Irish question: mainly compiled from the speeches and writings ... By J. A. Fox" Appendix - "The Great Landowners of the Highland"
Includes - Colonel Walker of Inverlair Estate - 71,000 acres
1891: http://www.corrour.co.uk
In 1891 Corrour (with Fersit) was purchased by the crusading landlord, Sir John Stirling Maxwell of Pollok (1866-1956).
1893: Google search (Parliamentary papers Inverlair 1895) view in pdf
From: "Parliamentary papers, Volume 39, Part 2 - By Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, 1895" page 1209
Inverlair Estate was purchased by Lord Arbinger in 1893 with 1800 sheep on 21,000 acres + cattle. It was part of a larger purchase, for rental as deer stalkers and Grouse hunters. The papers include a description of the land at the time - 26 acres and 26 acres of arable. (after the death of Colonel Walker)
1894: http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/ (search Inverlair Station)
The "Western Highlands Railway" was completed. Its route included a station at Inverlair (which is now Tulloch Station).
Fort William - Spean Bridge - Roy Bridge - Inverlair (Tulloch) - Corrour … Oban … Glasgow ...
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Excerpt from above web site:
Alternative Name(s) TULLOCH RAILWAY STATION; INVERLAIR STATION
Canmore ID 108160
Site Type RAILWAY STATION
County INVERNESS-SHIRE
Parish KILMONIVAIG
Council HIGHLAND
NGR NN 3548 8023
Latitude, Longitude 56.884173N, 4.701806W
Images 1
Summary Notes
Tulloch Station (formerly Inverlair Station), James Miller, 1894 An isolated but excellently preserved example of the West Highland Railways Swiss chalet style station buildings (now a bunkhouse). Like Spean Bridge, the non platform elevation is of plainer brick (here with integral projecting station house).
Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
Architectural Notes
Tulloch Station (NBR) originally known as Inverlair, opened 7.8.1894
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1895: http://www.s147457943.websitehome.co.uk/3.html
In January of 1895 Inverlair Station was renamed Tulloch station.
The factor, for Lord Arbinger, appeared before a House of Commons commission to defend rental increases? for both sub-tenants and hunters on his estates - including Inverlair. ( It mentions 24 farms on 3 Estates (Inverlair, Loch Trieg & Inch. Not clear - it may include others)
1923: http://www.s147457943.websitehome.co.uk/3.html
In January of 1895 Inverlair Station was renamed Tulloch station.
The West Highland Railway was absorbed into the North British Railway in 1908.
The tunnel and diversion at Loch Treig was opened in 1932 and the line was realigned as Loch Treig became a reservoir.
1934: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Laggan
Since 1934 Loch Laggan has been a reservoir, retained behind the Laggan Dam, forming part of the Lochaber hydro-electric scheme
Lochaber Hydroelectric Power (84MW)
The power generated by the Lochaber hydroelectric turbine is used by the aluminium smelter at Fort William. Constructed before WWII, a 15 mile 4.5m wide conduit (for 50 years the world's longest water supply tunnel) from Loch Laggan to Loch Treig and on to Ben Nevis takes water down to the aluminium smelter power house where it generates over 80MW of electricity.
1939-45: http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/InverlairLodge
A history of Inverlair Lodge including notes on Army Camp.
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/scotland-on-sunday-edinburgh/mi_7924/is_2008_Sept_7/scots-hideaway-bungling-spies-knew/ai_n35302205/
From: "Scotland on Sunday (Edinburgh, Scotland), Sept 7, 2008" Byline: Marc Horne
"Inverlair House was used by the Army during World War II as a holding facility for Secret Agents deemed unsuitable for active duty but with too much classified information to send home. It is understood that they continued to be trained so they would not be aware of their "prisoner" status. It later inspired the hit TV show The Prisoner."
http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/inverlair.html
"THE UNMUTUAL PRISONER LOCATIONS GUIDE - INVERLAIR LODGE" by Dave Healey
There are claims that Rudolph Hess was imprisoned at Inverlair for a short time after being shot down over Scotland. This account is refuted by others. But the lodge's former owner, Richard Sidgwick, believes it was true.
1957: http://www.rfmackenzie.info/html/rf_mackenzie.html
R.F. MacKenzie was appointed headmaster of Braehead Secondary School in 1957, and is at present engaged on an educational venture at Inverlair in Lochaber, where pupils will take part in forestry, soil reclamation, mountaineering and skiing."
"... other than for a short period in the summer months when it was used a holiday base for children from Fife from deprived backgrounds."
The education authorities took it over, and were going to use it for rehabilitation of problem boys - what would now be called an "outward bound" school. Some dispute the stated purpose and maintain "Inverlair" was a voluntary base for students wanting to experience the outdoors. It's location within 15 mile of Britain's highest peak, "Ben Nevis", and surrounding foothills would be a prime attraction.
2007: Report of Archialogical discovery of the Township of Inverlair (locally known as 'An Loin'), in census of 1851 as Achanancoichim
2007: http://her.highland.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid='MHG51255'
Discovery of Ruins of Inverlair Township
(Zoom out on line map, twice, to see real map showing Achnacochine (Ruin)
Inverlair TOWNSHIP ((between) 17th Century to 19th Century - 1700 AD to 1850 AD)
Partial Description:
The remains of a historic site known locally as 'An Loin' or 'An Loidhne' has been reported by Catherine MacKinnon. Local oral history records that MacKintosh's and Campbells lived there. Ms MacKinnon's great, great, great grandfather was an Angus Campbell who was cleared from his home and, along with his mother, came to live in Bohuntin.
2008: http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/71ABA6E6-EE9F-4838-B2AC-26300E085C61/0/PLR11209.pdf
"This is a Highland Council proposal for the construction of some 285 metres of new single track road and a new 27 metre span, single carriageway bridge. The existing weight restricted Inverlair Bridge is to be replaced and this will result in the currently poorly aligned U1010 route (Loch Treigh Road) being replaced by a straight stretch of single track road."
Inverlair House is placed on the market again - Asking price 1.1 Million pounds.
2009: Proposal to replace Inverlair Bridge across the Spean, on Loch Trieg Road and straighten approach.
INVERLAIR TODAY:
From Satellite images it appears that most of the estate is afforested. The Spean River is no longer the spectacular scene it once was having been dammed further upstream for Hydro-Electricity. Loch Trieg likewise has been used for similar purposes, a tunnel runs under part of Inverlair Estate.
Loch Trieg and Corrour are popular locations for hiking and biking and Inverlair has become a access point to the mountains to the west of Loch Trieg.
"The road was followed for about a mile towards Roy Bridge, and the Spean crossed by a bridge. A track leads from here through Inverlair... (and up into the mountains)"
"Inverlair it-self is a very small hamlet a mile or so off the main road from Spean Bridge to Newtonmore."
http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/highland/inverlair/pictures/
Pictures of Inverlair locale.
http://martintaylor.photos.me.uk/
Pictures of Loch Trieg from Western Scotland railway line
http://www.aliogden.net
Notes and photos of Loch Trieg environs incl. Stob Coire Mheadhoin
http://www.scottishsport.co.uk/walking/treigj.htm
Description of hike along Loch Trieg and Stob Coire
http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/smcj/smcj026/smcj02605.htm
The Loch Treig hills and Ben na Lap by Edred M. Corner
Visit to "Inverlair, Scotland by Isa and Alison Allan August 8, 1969
We were fortunate on arriving in Fort William to find that Mrs. Macarthur with whom we stayed, knew of Inverlair, and that a Mr. Campbell had been manager (she thought he still was). She found the telephone number, and we ran the number and found that Mr. Campbell had retired 2 years ago. I spoke to Mrs. Shaw the wife of the present owner, telling her of our wish to come out and see the farm, etc. and that we'd come out next morning to Tulloch Railway Station and walk to Inverlair. We visited Miss Tait-cousin of Evie Tait-who knew the property. Her grandfather having managed it and she told us that Mr. Campbell was not living in Roy Bridge (station before Tulloch), and that Inverlair was about a mile from Tulloch Station.
On Wednesday morning we left Fort William at 9:45 a.m. per train for Tulloch (18 miles), and arrived there at 10:30. As we alighted, imagine our surprise when a man approached us saying, "Misses Allan." It was Mr. Shaw who had come into Tulloch to meet us. It would have been a long, long mile! As we drove out, he stopped at the River Spean, a gently flowing stream and told us it would have been a roaring torrent in Great-Grandfather's (Andrew Allan) day, but had been dammed back upstream for hydro electric development.
We were soon at their farm house which we think would have been Great-Grandfather's. There was a much larger one nearby (now in disrepair) where we think the factor lived. It was used by the Army during World War II, and Hess was imprisoned there. The education authorities took it over, and were going to use it for rehabilitation of problem boys. Various plumbing and electrical installations were done, but the project fell through. There must have been 20-30 rooms, it had been used for accommodation of deerstalkers at one stage. We climbed a mountain at the back of the house, and got a wonderful view, picked some heath and took some photos. Mr. Shaw is very interested in the past history. We heard so much that I am a bit hazy about some matters. In the early days there were many crofters on the estate, then sheep were introduced in the 1820's and the crofters had to go. Men came in from the lowlands to care for the sheep. Maybe this was when Great-Grandfather came, he was a lowlander. We are not sure who owns the property, a large portion has been taken over for afforestations. Mr. Shaw works the farm on his own account but who owns the land we are not sure.
Mr. Shaw rounded up some of his sheep (black-faced mountain sheep), for us to take a photo. He showed us a fleece, coarse wool about 9" long for rug making and Italians use it for filling mattresses. The sheep are very hardy, fending for themselves on the mountains, right through the year. We had lunch with them and then took us into Roy Bridge to see Mr. Campbell. We had afternoon tea with him and his housekeeper, and then caught the bus from there back to Fort William. We didn't glean much from him, but we had a truly memorable day.
Next day we went to Fort Augustus about 32 miles from Fort William. It is quite a small village. We had an hour's trip up Loch Ness, no sign of the monster!!! We visited a Benefictine monastery, church and school, and then cam upon a Church of Scotland and called on the minister to enquire about any possible records of ALLANS and Boleskine (which is a parish in that area). Mr. Gillies the minister invited us and gave us afternoon tea. They have no records, they are all sent to Edinburgh. We enquired at the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages here today, all they could let us have was births, deaths, etc. of any individual, nothing about families so we decided it was no use making further enquiries.