Ardvourlie Castle
In 1863, Ardvourlie Castle, on the shores of Loch Seaforth, was built as a hunting lodge for the North Harris Estate which was being run by the widowed Lady Catherine and her Factor. It was let on a tenancy basis to sporting friends.
Amhuinnsuidhe Castle
Charles, 7th Earl of Dunmore, decided that Ardvourlie Castle was too far removed from his sporting activities. In 1867 Fincastle was constructed, Fincastle being the courtesy title (Viscount Fincastle) of the first sons of the Earls of Dunmore, but it later was renamed Amhuinnsuidhe Castle after its location.
Here are the residents of each castle as seen in the censuses of 1871-1901:
1871
Isabella Burns, 22, Domestic Servant, Ardvourlie Castle, b. Stornoway
Arabella Murray, 19, Domestic Servant, .b Ireland
Murdo Morrison, 21, Schoolmaster, Visitor, b. Carloway
Murdo Macaulay, 57, Gamekeeper, Ardvourlie Castle, b. Harris
Elizabeth, 54, Wife, b. Aberfeldy, Perthshire
Robert, 26, Assistant Gamekeeper, Son, b. Athline, Ross-shire
Jessie, 21, Daughter, b. Athline
Emma, 17, Daughter, b. Athline
John Macleod, 5, Grandson, b. Tarbert, Inverness-shire
Anne Braden, 47, Housemaid, Avensrudh Castle, b. England
Mary E Elliot, 16, Visitor, Niece, b. England
Donald Scott, 28, Gamekeeper, b. Perthshire
(Murdo Macleod, 60, Farmer, Scalpay, b. Fincastle, Harris)
This is odd as the castle was only built 4 years ago!
1879 - Ardvourlie Castle burnt down on Tuesday, 4th March
'...built about 16 years ago at great cost by Lord Dunmore.'
Glasgow Herald, Thursday, March 6, 1879; Issue 12232
1881
Betsy Macaulay, 32, Housekeeper, 1 Ardvourlie, b. Harris
Margaret Macleod, 26, House Maid, Cousin, b. Harris
Marion Mackay, 16, Visitor, b. Harris
Peter Macaulay Smith, 3, Visitor, b. Peterhead
Frederick Macaulay, 29, Gamekeeper, 2 Ardvourlie, b. Lochs
(Wife and 4 children all b. Harris)
Chirsty Mackenzie, 22, General Servant, b. Lochs
Murdo Macfarland, 48, Assistant Gamekeeper, 3 Ardvoulie, b. Ness, ross-shire
Elizabeth Covell, 32, General Servant (Domestic, Castle, N Harris, b. England
Margaret Macleod, 28, General Servant (Domestic), b. Harris
Euphemia Mackinnon, 32, General Servant (Domestic), b. Harris
1891
Marjory(?) Macdonald, 35, House Maid, 1, Ardvourlie, b. Harris
Bella Mackay, 20, Third House Maid, b. Harris
Frederick Macaulay, 48, Gamekeeper, 2 Ardvourlie, b. Lewis
(Wife and 9 children)
Kate Mackenzie, 29, Housemaid Domestic, Finn Castle, b. Harris
Marion Mackay, 28, Under Housemaid, b. Harris
1901
Ewan Macdonald, 25, Deer Stalker, Gamekeepers House, b. Kilmonivig, Inverness-shire
Flora Finlayson, 34, Housekeeper, b. Portree
(There are also several entries for 1 and 2 Gamekeepers House, N Harris but I intend focussing on those people associated with Gamekeeping in a separate article)
The most obvious feature is that none of the censuses have captured occupants other than employees and their visitors.
Whilst we can be fairly sure that the domestic staff were living in the castles themselves, those supporting the sporting activities appear predominantly to have inhabited associated houses.
Although I am slightly disappointed by the 'thinness' of these results, perhaps they demonstrate how small a part these castles played in the everyday lives of the 4000+ people of Harris despite they being the people who paid the highest price in establishing these 'sporting' venues on the Highlands and Islands...
My Great Great Grandmother is Isabella Burns (1871 Ardvourlie Castle). Family folklore was of an oval pin that belonged to Isabella who, while a maid at the castle, gave something to eat to a man who came begging. A number of years later this same man came back to Stornoway on a day when there was great excitement because of a pending wedding. When the man asked who was getting married & was told "Isabella Burns" he sought her out & gifted the pin to her as a thank you for her kindness to him. Isabella wore the pin on her wedding day (I have the picture) and I wore the pin on mine when I married in 1967. I am interested in knowing if there is a picture of the staff (in particular of Isabella Burns in uniform) of Ardvourlie Castle from the 1870s? Thank yu.
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth, what a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it. There were few photographers in the isles at that time but it is just possible that Captain FWL Thomas may have taken such a picture or, perhaps, that one might be found in the private papers of the Dunmore family? You could try the National Records of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland to see if they can help. Thanks again, Peter.
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