Ampherlaw House
Encyclopedia
Ampherlaw House is a manor house in Lanarkshire
, Scotland
, near the village of Carnwath
and one of the former possessions of the Somerville
family. It was built some time in the early 16th century and the members of the Somerville family who held the Ampherlaw estate were cadets of the Lords Somerville of Carnwath and Linton
.
After the siege of Cowthally Castle
in 1597, which later fell into ruins - three important stones were retained and erected at Ampherlaw. One is a marriage stone
from 1569, another is of Dame Janet Maitland depicted as Charity
and finally, there is a statue of Mary, Queen of Scots, playing the lute. This is especially suitable, as the Somerville family were supporters of the Marian
cause and assisted in raising an army for her in 1568 at Hamilton
.
William Somerville
Esq. of Ampherlaw, although the eldest son and born at Ampherlaw, was passed over for his younger brother, in the Scottish manner of succession to land and titles, and chose to emigrate to Tasmania
with his wife and several children. Their ship was the ill-fated Catherine Sharer, which blew up in June 1855 in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel
at night on its approach to Hobart
. The unhappy emigrants were clad only in their nightclothes, so urgent was their escape. The ship was smuggling gunpowder, which was believed to have been ignited by a disaffected sailor.
William Somerville and his family settled at Huntly Hill in Lilydale
, where he was a successful farmer, J.P. and lay preacher of the Presbyterian Church.
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, near the village of Carnwath
Carnwath
Carnwath is a moorland village on the southern edge of the Pentland Hills of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The village lies about south of both Edinburgh and Glasgow...
and one of the former possessions of the Somerville
Somerville
-Places:United States*Somerville, Alabama*Somerville, Indiana*Somerville, Maine*Somerville, Massachusetts*Somerville, New Jersey**Somerville Circle, a traffic circle near Somerville, New Jersey*Somerville, Ohio*Somerville, Tennessee*Somerville, Texas...
family. It was built some time in the early 16th century and the members of the Somerville family who held the Ampherlaw estate were cadets of the Lords Somerville of Carnwath and Linton
Linton
-Places:Australia* Linton, Victoria* Linton bushfireCanada* Linton, Ontario* Linton, QuebecEngland* Linton, Cambridgeshire* Linton, Derbyshire* Linton, Essex* Linton, Herefordshire** Linton, Bringsty near Bromyard, Herefordshire...
.
After the siege of Cowthally Castle
Cowthally Castle
Cowthally Castle, also known as Couthalley, is a ruined L-plan castle near Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The remains are protected as a scheduled monument....
in 1597, which later fell into ruins - three important stones were retained and erected at Ampherlaw. One is a marriage stone
Marriage stone
A marriage stone is usually a stone lintel carved with the initials, coat of arms, etc. of a newly married couple with the date of the marriage. They were very popular until Victorian times, but fell out of general use in the 20th century...
from 1569, another is of Dame Janet Maitland depicted as Charity
Charity (virtue)
In Christian theology charity, or love , means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others.The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.- Caritas: altruistic love :...
and finally, there is a statue of Mary, Queen of Scots, playing the lute. This is especially suitable, as the Somerville family were supporters of the Marian
Marian
Marian may refer to:* Marian , people with the given name Marian* Maid Marian, companion of Robin Hood* Marian, an adjective for things relating to Gaius Marius...
cause and assisted in raising an army for her in 1568 at Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
.
William Somerville
William Somerville
William Somerville may refer to:*William Somervile , English poet, also written as William Somerville*William E. Somerville a Scottish aircraft engineer*William Somerville...
Esq. of Ampherlaw, although the eldest son and born at Ampherlaw, was passed over for his younger brother, in the Scottish manner of succession to land and titles, and chose to emigrate to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
with his wife and several children. Their ship was the ill-fated Catherine Sharer, which blew up in June 1855 in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel
D'Entrecasteaux Channel
The D'Entrecasteaux Channel is a region of water between Bruny Island and the south-east of the mainland of Tasmania. It extends between the estuaries of the Derwent, and the Huon Rivers...
at night on its approach to Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
. The unhappy emigrants were clad only in their nightclothes, so urgent was their escape. The ship was smuggling gunpowder, which was believed to have been ignited by a disaffected sailor.
William Somerville and his family settled at Huntly Hill in Lilydale
Lilydale
Lilydale may refer to:Australia*Lilydale, Tasmania, a small town in Northern Tasmania*Lilydale, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia**Lilydale railway line, a suburban electric railway in Melbourne, Australia...
, where he was a successful farmer, J.P. and lay preacher of the Presbyterian Church.