Castle Calvay (10 of 10)
This photo shows the 'natural harbour' mentioned by RCAHMS (behind and left of the castle), big enough for a couple of galleys I guess - or Bonnie Prince Charlie's rowing boat! In the far distance are the houses and ferry terminal (with a docked ferry) of Lochboisdale, and (occupying about 3 pixels) me!
There is no record that I am aware of of when Castle Calvay was inhabited by anyone other than Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Macdonald's of Boisdale certainly didn't live here (I don't actually know where they lived). The last laird died in 1875 at the age 90 at Liverpool. By the time he became laird, his father had accumulated massive debts and the land had to be sold off bit by bit. By 1856, the remaining money was gone and he went to debtors prison for a year or so.
The Clanranald lands went in much the same fashion and at much the same time. Ranald George, 20th of Clanranald, born in 1788, sold almost all the traditional Clanranald lands between 1813 and 1838, for a total sum of over £213,211 and at the end only held onto the ruinous Castle Tioram. He died in London in 1873. Tioram was sold later too. The direct line of Clanranald chiefs became extinct in 1944, following the death of Angus Roderick, 23rd of Clanranald. The chiefship then passed into the line of the Macdonalds (formerly) of Boisdale - although - in 2013, the original line was discovered not to have died out after all! The situation is currently being reviewed by the court of the Lord Lyon!
Castle Calvay (10 of 10)
This photo shows the 'natural harbour' mentioned by RCAHMS (behind and left of the castle), big enough for a couple of galleys I guess - or Bonnie Prince Charlie's rowing boat! In the far distance are the houses and ferry terminal (with a docked ferry) of Lochboisdale, and (occupying about 3 pixels) me!
There is no record that I am aware of of when Castle Calvay was inhabited by anyone other than Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Macdonald's of Boisdale certainly didn't live here (I don't actually know where they lived). The last laird died in 1875 at the age 90 at Liverpool. By the time he became laird, his father had accumulated massive debts and the land had to be sold off bit by bit. By 1856, the remaining money was gone and he went to debtors prison for a year or so.
The Clanranald lands went in much the same fashion and at much the same time. Ranald George, 20th of Clanranald, born in 1788, sold almost all the traditional Clanranald lands between 1813 and 1838, for a total sum of over £213,211 and at the end only held onto the ruinous Castle Tioram. He died in London in 1873. Tioram was sold later too. The direct line of Clanranald chiefs became extinct in 1944, following the death of Angus Roderick, 23rd of Clanranald. The chiefship then passed into the line of the Macdonalds (formerly) of Boisdale - although - in 2013, the original line was discovered not to have died out after all! The situation is currently being reviewed by the court of the Lord Lyon!