Eilean Donan Castle
"Loch Duich and Eilan Donan Castle." A postcard published by James Valentine.
There can be few sites in the far north west of Scotland more photographed than Eilean Donan Castle that stands at the head of Loch Duich.
Begun in the 13th century, it became the stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie. The clan was a strong supporter of the Jacobite cause, lending assistance in the risings of both 1715 and 1719. This latter revolt was aided by Spanish manpower, some of whom occupied the castle. For this reason it came under fire from vessels of the British Navy on both the 10th and the 11th of May, which left the castle in ruins.
William Daniell's aquatint of Eilean Donan Castle, published in 1820.
All the Victorian sketches of the castle show it in a ruined state.
A 19th century pencil sketch of the castle.
A small 19th century oil painting, artist unknown.
A 19th century watercolour, signed 'C.B.H.'
Here are two photographs taken by George Eashington Wilson, a few years before the restoration work on the castle was begun.
A GWW postcard
A GWW postcard. Notice the area of cultivation in the distance.
This is a photograph from an album titled "Tour in Scotland June 1927." It shows the castle just before work on the restoration had begun.
The castle was not restored until the early 1930s. This valentine postcard, number 215401, was published in 1931.
Postcard by James Valentine, first issued in 1931.
It is possible to make out the scaffolding used in the restoration work. A bridge can be seen linking the small island to the mainland. This was the first time the castle had had such access.
One man who was particularly proud of his connections to this place was the geologist Sir Roderick Impey Murchison. He was a key figure in British 19th century geology, who led the Geological Survey into a long controversy over the succession of rocks in the far north-west of Scotland. He traced his ancestry back to the heritors of the Castle, and raised a monument on Loch Duich in memory of one in particular, Donald Murchison. This ancestor collected the local rents, and rather than give them to the British Government, chose to ship them over to the Earl of Seaforth who was in exile on the Continent. The scene was celebrated in a painting by Landseer which now hangs in the National Gallery of Scotland. Called "Rent Day in the Highlands", it, too, was commissioned by Murchison. Landseer is thought to have paid Murchison the compliment of basing the depiction of Donald on that Sir Roderick.
The Murchison monument on Loch Duich, erected by Sir Roderick Murchison.
The Murchison Monument on Loch Duich. You can just make out the bridge over to Skye, and the island's mountains in the gap at the bottom of the tree
You can find a chapter on the Highlands Controversy in my book, The Immeasurable Wilds. David Oldroyds The Highlands Controversy is the classic account, and you can read about it on the website of the North-west Highlands Geopark. It is a fascinating story.
As for the castle, its fame has spread even to China....
A modern painting of Eilean Donan Castle, brought back to this country from China.