Author: Administrator
Short video clip of ‘Now and Then’ photos
An extract from the notes of Alexander Carmichael (1832 -1912) regarding Sir Walters Scott’s visit in Appin. Sir Walter Scott in Appin Between notes about his own family and general genealogical notes about the Carmichaels, Alexander Carmichael wrote down an anecdote regarding the time that Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) visited Appin. The date of Scott’s visit is not known but it must have been prior to the publication of his first historical novel Waverley which took the literary world by storm in 1814. Scott may be given credit for the creation of the modern historical novel and some of his…
Dallens Bridge South bound steam train approaching Appin Station.
The castle we see today was built in the early stages of the 16th century, by royal expenditure of King James IV, for the Stewarts of Appin. The castle sits on a small island at the entrance to Loch Laich, called the ‘Cormant’s Rock’ (Creag an Sgairbh). This name later became the war cry, used by the men of Appin during times of battle. The name ‘Stalker’ translates to the Gaelic word Stalcaire, meaning Falconer. This was a favourite past time of James IV. King James IV and the V both visited Appin and stayed, on numerous occasions, in the…
Brigadier Ian McAlister Stewart DSO, MC, DL, OBE of Achnacone Appin, was born in 1895 in Surore, Poona, where his father was medical officer in the Poona Horse. The family returned to Achnacone in 1895. Brigadier Ian Stewart of Achnacone Brigadier Stewart had a German governess before attending Cheltenham School. He went on to Sandhurst with a prize cadetship and passed out in 1913 as top cadet of the year and also the youngest. He was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in February 1914, when the regiment was at Fort George. When the Argylls were the first British…
On 13th February 1945, of Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Kenneth Stewart of Achnacone, Appin, died at the age of 92. He was the head of the Achnacone branch of the Stewarts of Appin and the senior cadet still holding their original lands in Appin, being the 12th representative of the family. Both his great great grandfather and his great great grand uncle were killed at Culloden. He was educated at Haileybury and Edinburgh University where he took his medical degrees. As an athlete he was distinguished in rugby football, having captained Edinburgh University in 1874, in which year, and also in 1876,…
Brief Summary of the Appin Murder The chiefs and leaders of the clans, such as Ardsheal, were maintained in exile by what was known as the “second rent.” The estates of Ardsheal, Collart and Mamore had been forfeited and the usual rents were collected for the Crown by Colin Campbell of Glenure, who had been appointed factor. The arrangement was naturally unpopular, but the factor tried to make the best of it by using James Stewart (James of the Glen) as a go-between with the various tenants on the Ardsheal Estate. On 14th May, 1752, Colin Campbell of Glenure was…
When Alexander Carmichael visited his native island of Lismore he would take the opportunity to write down snippets of information about historical traditions which had a bearing upon this part of Argyllshire. Being a Carmichael himself, he probably relished the thought of his clan name being the oldest in Lismore, the ones who could best claim seniority. But there may well be some historical veracity to this claim. Aside from being standard-bearers to the Stewarts of Appin, it is interesting to note the rôle carried out by the Carmichaels on the burial of a chief of the Stewarts of Appin.…
Most of the Stewarts of Appin did not use the surname “Stewart”. The leadership of the Clan was held by the Chief and his many cousins, who were tacksmen who held minor estates in Appin as cadets of the chief. Many of the clansmen were descended from families which had lived in Appin long before the Stewarts arrived, including McColls, Clan MacLea, McQuorquodales and Carmichaels. The Stewarts of Appin were traditional allies of the Clan MacLaren of Balquhidder, the Clan Cameron of Lochiel and the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe (or MacIans) of Glencoe. They were inveterate enemies of the Clan…
Oh to be a teenager And walk the Appin ways To see again the moonbeams Light up the castle walls The sentinel of Appin Stands proud in Laich loch And guards the country people Around its shores that dwell Yes Appin it is magic The fairies make it so The knolls are there a plenty You’ll see them as you go If you’ve never been to Appin Just trim your sails and go For there you’ll find the ether That is tonic to the soul I’m glad I lived in Appin Twas there I learnt the skills That set me…