Lemlair House
Encyclopedia
Lemlair House was originally built as a fortified seat for the chief of the Clan Munro
in 1643. However it soon became the home of Colonel John Munro of Lemlair, a near relative of the chief. Lemlair is situated halfway north of Dingwall
and south of Evanton
, and is just a short distance from Foulis Castle
. The name "Lemlair" is thought to come from the Gaelic
for "a bare place suitable for grazing horses".
, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
. Munro was joined by Colonel Hugh Fraser, Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty and Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine. However John Munro became more well known for the prominent part he played in the defeat of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
at the Battle of Carbisdale
in 1650. The lands of Lemlair were later made into a separate barony for John Munro which he held directly from the crown. However it was passed back to the clan chief in 1761.
Skibo Castle
, where Madonna
was married in 2000, is half-an-hour's drive away and the area boasts excellent fishing, shooting and stalking and countryside walks.
Clan Munro
-Origins:The main traditional origin of the clan is that the Munros came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th century and that they fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross who defeated Viking invaders in Rosshire...
in 1643. However it soon became the home of Colonel John Munro of Lemlair, a near relative of the chief. Lemlair is situated halfway north of Dingwall
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
and south of Evanton
Evanton
Evanton is a large village in Easter Ross, in the Highland Council Area of Scotland. It lies between the river Sgitheach and the Allt Graad, is north of the city of Inverness, some south-west of Alness, and north-east of Dingwall. The village has a dozen or so streets, the main one being...
, and is just a short distance from Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle lies in the parish of Kiltearn, about 1.5 miles southwest of the village of Evanton in the Highland area of northern Scotland. The castle has been the seat of the Clan Munro for over eight hundred years. During the 11th century, the clan chief was given the castle and Foulis lands as...
. The name "Lemlair" is thought to come from the Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
for "a bare place suitable for grazing horses".
Colonel John Munro of Lemlair
Colonel John Munro, 2nd of Lemlair became known as a successful soldier. He was one of the officers he took part in the Siege of Inverness (1649)Siege of Inverness (1649)
The siege of Inverness that took place in 1649 was part of the 17th century Scottish Civil War that was in itself part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms....
, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of the same monarch...
. Munro was joined by Colonel Hugh Fraser, Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty and Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine. However John Munro became more well known for the prominent part he played in the defeat of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
at the Battle of Carbisdale
Battle of Carbisdale
The Battle of Carbisdale took place close to the Village of Culrain on 27 April 1650 and was part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
in 1650. The lands of Lemlair were later made into a separate barony for John Munro which he held directly from the crown. However it was passed back to the clan chief in 1761.
Rebuilding
In 1859, it was bought from Sir Charles Munro of Foulis by "Red John" Munro and it was Red John's grandson, another John, who rebuilt it into the present mansion with its internal fittings featuring the Munro eagle in 1876. He moved into the house in 1879 and it has had only three owners since then.Lemlair today
The mansion is set in 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of grounds. The building features a Ren-nie Mackintosh tiled fireplace and mantelpiece, a snooker room, a tiled-floor veranda overlooking the firth, a tennis court, eight bedrooms, stained-glass windows and Munro clan features such as a fireplace depicting the famous eagle emblem. The house has recently been extensively referbished including exterior woodwork to bring the house back to original standard.Skibo Castle
Skibo Castle
Skibo Castle is located to the west of Dornoch in the Highland county of Sutherland, Scotland overlooking the Dornoch Firth. Although the castle dates back to the 12th century, the present structure is largely of the 19th century, and early 20th century, when it was the home of industrialist...
, where Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
was married in 2000, is half-an-hour's drive away and the area boasts excellent fishing, shooting and stalking and countryside walks.