Invergarry Castle - Stabilising the Ruins.

Invergarry Castle Project – Stabilising the Ruins

Built on Creagan an Fhithich, the Rock of the Raven, Invergarry Castle was last occupied in 1746. In that year, on May 29th, on a ‘dark, tempestuous night’, in retribution for Glengarry’s prominent role in the Jacobite campaign, Cumberland’s troops pillaged and burnt his stronghold before using gunpowder to demolish a corner of the castle, ending a turbulent 80 year period of attack and counter-attack on the castle. Staunch Roman Catholics and Royalists, the Glengarry chiefs had gained an early reputation as the instigators of insurrection in the north and their strongholds, constantly under siege, rarely survived for long. The ‘new’ castle was built to replace an earlier one destroyed by General Monk in 1654. It was designed on the L plan, with a round tower on the NE angle. The main building rose to 5 and the tower to 6 stories in height. The hall, on the first floor, measured 44 by 20 feet.

In 1690, when the death of Dundee at the Battle of Killiecrankie left the Royalists leaderless and weakened, it too was declared forfeit and occupied by English troops until 1715 when Glengarry again laid siege to the castle and regained possession. In 1716 the military briefly reoccupied it before burning it down in August of that year. It remained in ruins until 1727 when Thomas Rawlinson, an English ironmaster running a smelting business in the area, repaired and occupied it. However, occupation must have been difficult for him and in 1731 he agreed to allow Glengarry to regain possession in return for protecting Rawlinson, his servants, tenants and employees from ‘all thefts, incursions attempts or depradations.’ By 1745 Glengarry was once again in the forefront of the Jacobite campaign, entertaining the Prince at Invergarry Castle on his way to Culloden. The Princes party returned on the night following the battle, but were forced to forage for their own food, finding the castle deserted, ‘without meat, drink, fire or candle, save some firesticks’.

After Culloden the castle was never rebuilt. The ruins still stand on the Rock of the Raven in the grounds of the Glengarry Castle Hotel. In 1838 when the rest of the lands were sold to pay off accumulated debts, the castle remained in the possession of the Glengarry Macdonells, but eventually, at the end of the last century, it came into the possession of the MacCallum family, owners of the Glengarry Castle Hotel. By then the ravages of time were threatening to complete the demolition work begun by Cumberland’s troops 250 years earlier and The Invergarry Castle Preservation Trust was established to safeguard its future.

In 2005 Historic Scotland agreed to carry out an initial programme of work to stabilise the main structure and to prevent further deterioration while retaining, as far as possible, the integrity of the building, materials and craftsmanship and without disturbing those areas which have already collapsed. The structural engineer, Krystyna Pytasz, is insistent that pouring in quantities of modern concrete and installing steel beams is not appropriate and that the work needs to be done with sensitivity and respect for the history, age and architecture of the building. Modern intrusion will be minimised, employing masons and artisans skilled in working with traditional materials e.g. lime mortar, and, where possible, carrying out the work in such a way that it can be undone in the future should there be advances in conservation and preservation techniques. This has necessitated some creative responses to the challenges posed, such as the use of sand to stabilise the base of the building, a material which, when applied wet, was found to be capable of providing the necessary stability, but which can be removed without damage if a better solution is found later.

In Autumn 2006 Historic Scotland commissioned a second phase of work, due for completion in June 2007. During this phase the plants which have colonised the stonework are being removed, architraves restored to provide support for walls above, mortar replaced and walls capped where this is needed to prevent damage from water ingress. Concrete capping and iron stanchions used during a previous attempt to stabilise the building will be removed and replaced with more sympathetic materials. Lime mortar and the building techniques used in the original building will be used and where additional stone is needed, local, matching sources used.
Already it is easier to see and appreciate the original craftsmanship, which has kept the walls standing for so many centuries. Two local archaeologists are recording the work and identifying and interpreting key features not previously visible. This is providing clues to the history, function and structure of the original building, as well as indicating where additional floors were added at some time in the past.
As well as securing the future of the castle, the work will undoubtedly add to our understanding of this period of Highland history.

There are plans for a viewing platform and interpretive panels on site but more funding is urgently needed to complete the project. Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund should send donations to:

The Invergarry Castle Preservation Trust c/o Mr and Mrs D. MacCallum, Glengarry Castle Hotel, Invergarry, Inverness-shire, PH35 4HW Or paid to Acc. N.o. 06002374 sort code 80-06-84.