History
Fort William and Ben Nevis
Fort William
The towns history dates back to 1654 when General Monk built the towns
first fort at the mouth of the River Ness and named it Inverlochy.
The adjacent village on the site of the present town centre was
established around the herring industry and was originally know as
Gordonsburgh.
In 1690 the fort was enlarged and renamed Fort William after the
monarch and the village became Maryburgh after the Queen.
In 1690 the fort was enlarged and renamed Fort William after the monarch and the village became Maryburgh after the Queen.
The fort withstood the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745 but could
not withstand progress in the 19th century when it was demolished to
accommodate the railway.
The town of Fort William became a busy tourism centre in the 19th
Century with the advent of the railway, the Caledonian Canal and the
west coast steamers that plied there way up Loch Linnhe.
West Highland Museum - Fort William
Full of local history from Neolithic to Jacobite times, including the helmet of James Graham, Marquis of Montrose the victor of the Battle of Inverlochy.
Battle of Inverlochy 2 February 1645
This was between the army of the Marquis of Montrose and the
Covenanters under the command of the Earl of Argyll. Montrose had been
as far north as Fort Augustus when he learnt of the advancing
Covenanters and decided to return to Inverlochy. The army in several
wings surrounded the Castle and about 1300 Covenaters were massacred
as they fled.
Inverlochy Castle
Situated at the mouth of the River Lochy it is thought to be the
second castle on this site. The first structure was suggested to be in
existence in the 700's and was surrounded by a rich and cosmopolitan
city. It is here that King Achaius is supposed to have signed a treaty
with Charlemagne. After that date the Vikings destroyed the castle and
community.
Inverlochy Castle
The second castle that is now in ruin dates from the 13th century. It started as the stronghold of Sir John Comyn of Badenoch then passed to the Bruces and then the Huntly Gordons. The castle was at the centre of the Battle of Inverlochy and was in ruin shortly after, prior to the building of the new fort by General Monk some one mile south west.
Achnacarry
This is just off the route to the west of Bunarkaig between Loch Lochy and Arkaig. This is the home of the Clan Camerons of Lochiel. An earlier castle was burnt to the ground after the 1745 uprising and Culloden as reprisal for the part the Camerons of Lochiel played in supporting and hiding Prince Charles Edward Stuart after the battle of Culloden (1746).
In 1802 a new building was established and this later became a commando
training centre at the time of World War II. Also close by is "The
dark Mile" and avenue of Beech trees planted by the Camerons of Lochiel, this having some romantic connections with the 45 uprising. This is also known as Mile Dorcha.
Invergarry
This was the land of the MacDonells of Glen Garry, and they were
staunch Catholics and Jacobites. This resulted in the castle being
frequently attached and rebuilt first by General Monk in 1654 then in
1689. Then Bonnie Prince Charlie supported its rebuilding around the
time of Culloden but after 1746 it was finally destroyed by the Duke of
Cumberland in revenge for the Jacobites.
Invergarry is also known for Pig Iron, a trading deal between the MacDonell's and Thomas Rawlinson from England in 1727. The Invergarry foundry used English ore and local charcoal and was the first foundry in the Highlands
Invergarry is also known for Pig Iron, a trading deal between the MacDonell's and Thomas Rawlinson from England in 1727. The Invergarry foundry used English ore and local charcoal and was the first foundry in the Highlands
Alasdair MacDonell, 15th of Glengarry was the person Sir Walter Scott used as the character of Fergus MacIvor in the novel Waverley.
There is also the Well of the Heads. This commemorates a time in the 17th century when Keppoch chief of the clan Macdonell sent his two sons to France for education. On Kepoch's death his seven brothers ran the estate and when the sons returned they murdered them. A family friend Ian Lorn however sought revenge and having slain the seven brothers washed the heads in the nearby spring and presented the washed heads to the Noble Chief of Glengarry Castle.
Aberchalder
It is here that Prince Charles Edward Stewart reviewed 2000 men fighting in the Jacobite cause as he march south in August 1745.
St Benedict's Abbey Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus
This was a community developed around the network of Wade military
roads which sprung up after the 1715 Jacobite uprising. The original
fort on the site of the present Lovat Arms hotel was replaced by a
stronger fort built in 1730 and this became incorporated at a later
date 1867 into the Abbey of the Benedictine monks.
The town got its present name for Wade who named the community of Kilchumein (after St.Chumein an early abbot of Iona) after William Augustus who became the Duke of Cumberland. After the 1745 uprising the Duke took the fort as a hunting lodge. This fort remained a garrison up until the canal opened in 1822 and by 1867 it was sold to Lord Lovat, descendent of an executed Jacobite.
A native of Fort Augustus and now buried in the protestant graveyard is John Anderson (died 1832). John was a carpenter and friend of Robert Burns and he is supposed to have made Burns' coffin. He is remembered in one of Burns' poems," John Anderson, My Jo John".
Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle - Drumnadrochit
This ruined castle has a long history stretching from the iron age
through to the Covenanters and Jacobites in the late 17th century. In
1691 as the Government Troops were withdrawing they blow up parts of
the castle so that the enemy could not re-occupy. From them on the castle
has remained in ruin, but is now under the care of Historic Scotland.
Early in 2002 a new visitor centre was opened overlooking the
Castle and this has a very comprehensive audio visual presentation on
the Castle along with exhibitions, refreshments and shop.
Early in 2002 a new visitor centre was opened overlooking the Castle and this has a very comprehensive audio visual presentation on the Castle along with exhibitions, refreshments and shop.
Drumnadrochit
This is a community at the head of Urquhart Bay and the foot of Glen
Urquhart. This has developed with the official Loch Ness Monster Museum
and the now developed Urquhart Castle visitor centre.
Up the glen and close to Cannich is the Clava Cairn and ring of 11 standing stones. South of Urquhart Castle on the loch side is a monument to John Cobb who died in 1952 while attempting the world water speed record.
Inverness
This area has long been occupied, the first civilisation being thought
to have occupied the area to the west of the river Ness in 500 BC.
This area was again occupied in the 6 and 7th centuries in the form of
a Fort at Craig Phadrig. This may have been the headquarters of King
Brude (King of the Picts). It is also suggested that St Columba met
Brude at Craig Phadrig. Archaeologists have been able to determine that
the building was rectangular and of a wood and stone construction.
Other remnants of 7th century habitation are to be found at the Clava
Ring Cairn in the Raigmore area of the city.
Inverness from west bank of the River Ness
In the 11th Century a new fort was built, likely to have been of timber, it was to the east of the present castle mound. Some of Shakespeare's Macbeth is written around King Duncan and this castle. The present site was first used around the turn of the 12th century and this was a stone castle which was in existence when King David granted Inverness Royal Burgh status. This castle was the subject of frequent skirmishes between the keeper of the castle and the Lord of the Isles, seeing visits by King James I, III & IV. In 1718 it was extended by General George Wade at which time it was renamed Fort George. This castle was however destroyed following the 1745 Jacobite uprising by supporters of Prince Charles Edward Stewart (the Young Pretender).
Today's castle was built in 1830's and is still being used by the crown as a courthouse.
Throughout the earlier periods of Inverness the development was driven by the towns location as the only practical crossing point between the North of Scotland and the rest of the country. The flat and fertile plans at the mouth of the Ness were the point where ferries and them bridges could allow passage north and south. It was also a port with trade to England and the Baltic, a mart and administrative centre. With the advent of the network of roads built by General Wade, then the Caledonian Canal in 1822 and the railway links in 1854 and 1898 the town took on a new trading and tourism role, and much of the City of today has architecture from this period.
