Dunoon

[Mike1]

Oldhiker and myself are both in total agreement that the Cowal Peninsula is God's country, so here are some shots to prove the point.

These first images are actually Oldhiker's that I have stored for him, so props to him for these.

He was fortunate enough to have been present for the Clan Lamont Gathering, last year.


Father Peter Noel Lamont of that Ilk, 29th Chief of Clan Lamont, speaking to the crowd.

Father Lamont is Parish Priest of Holy Name Mary Roman Catholic Church, Rydalmere a suburb of Sydney, Australia and was visiting Scotland for the first time.


The procession leading from the Dunoon town center to the Lamont Memorial, on Tom-A-Mhoid (Hill of Judgement) Road.


A sole piper leading the procession to the base of the monument, to lay a wreath of heather and crabapple. This monument commemorates the June 1646 massacre of the Lamonts by Clann Diarmaid.


Laying of the wreath


The Memorial


The plaque on the Memorial, naming some of those slaughtered by the crook-mouths in 1646.

Thanks to Oldhiker for these images

[Dirk Skene]

Nice pic's & thanks for the photo tour.

[Mike1]

A bit of history about the 1646 Lamont Massacre -

The terms of capitulation between the Lamonts and the Campbells were concluded on 3 June 1646. By ruse, Sir James Lamont and his sister, Isobel preserved a copy of the original terms (which would finally help lead Argyll to the scaffold in 1661). Sir James signed alone for his clan, whilst the "crook-mouths" that signed were Ardkinglas, Strachur, Dunstaffnage, Inverawe, Eilean Greg, one of the Lochnell family and a cadet of the Maclachlans. Here are quotes of the material clauses -

"Imprimis, it is agreed that the said Sir James Lamont shall oversign his house at Toward and shall have libertie to goe himself, his brethren, souldiers, wives and children, towards Sir Alexander Mack Donnald or anie of his quarters, who for that effect shall have a safe conduct, and boates sent along, who shall deliver them wihout anie harm of any person to bee done to them, under the said James' command without prejudice to such women as intend to go to the east side [to the lowlands], or to the Isle of Boote [Bute} to be safely conducted there with boats.

"Secondly, it is agreed that the said Sir James shall have libertie to transport out of the said house all baggage belonginge to himselfe or anie gentleman within the same, [excepting] anie such weapons as were gott in anie of the name of Campbell's houses or abroad in the fields.

"Fifthly, it is agreed that the said Sir James shall be reddie to remove with the baggage aforesaid before to-morrow at eight of the clocke in the morninge, the keepinge and keyes of the house being presently delivered to the aforesaid [Ardkinglas], or anue that he shall appoynt, and that a speciall man may se the baggage put up that nothinge be taken away but what is right."

Sir James must have been pleased with the arrangment, as it was written, which secured "indemnity in their person and fortunes". It is suggested that Sir James must have forgotten the warning, that "as long as trees are in the wood, there will be treachery in the Campbells".

The Lamonts were seized and bound. A similar truce was obtained at Ascog, after which both Ascog and Toward were reived and burned, the estates scoured and scorched, anumber of women and children were murdered in cod blood, thirty-six prominent clansmen were hanged in Dunoon, with many others dirked just after, the cheif and his brothers were carried to Inveraray, where they were robbed, imprisoned and threatened. The young Ascog and Auchagoyl were murdered. Finally, all the remaining lands and possessions were taken away.

An account of the tree upon which the thirty-six were hung follows -

"So that the Lord from heaven did declare his wrath and displeasure aginst the aforesaid inhumane cruewaltie, by striking of the tree quhairon they were hanged, ... being a lyvelie fresh growing ash tree...amongst many other fresh trees with leives...so that the haill leives fell from it, and the tree withered, never bearing leiff thereafter remaineing so be the space of tuo years; which being cutt doune thair sprang out of the verie heart of the roote thereof and spring lyk unto blood popling upe, runeing in several streams, all over the roote, and that for severall years thereafter, till the saidis murthereris or their favoureris perceaving that it was remarked by personnes of all rankis resorting thair to sie the miracle, they did cause holk out the rrote, covering the holl with earth, which was full of the said mater lyk blood."

Apparently they had some fear of the old saying, "long lasts the rod whose root has sprung from blood".

NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.

[Mike1]

Taken from the dock at Gourock, waiting on the ferry to take us across to Dunoon.


Looking across the Clyde




The Gantocks Light on the Firth of Clyde


A view of the north side of Dunoon


Looking to the south of Dunoon from the Lamont Memorial


A view of Dunoon from the dock

[scoutniagara]

My Currie grandmother was born in Lindsay Cottage, Dunoon (now torn down, and on it's site, is now, the home of the local school master.)

My father's middle name, is Strone... the name of the town/village at the tip of land NNE from Dunoon. I suspect, that my grandmother may have actually lived in Strone.

I drove over to Dunoon from Glasgow, and the view was of lovely hilly terrain.

[Mike1]

Here are some images taken from the window of our accommodations, the morning we headed back for Clackmannanshire -


Can you believe it was raining? Sorry about the raindrops on the windy.


Looking across the Firth of Clyde to Gourock



If anyone is planning a stay in the Dunoon area, I can highly recommend the Lamont Suite at the Abbots Brae Hotel. We were treated like royalty there.

[Monkey@Arms]

Thanks for the pictures Mike (and Old Hiker). They sure brought back memories (including the weather). Here are a few images of Dunoon and the environs I "lifted" over the years.

This is one is a clickety


The street where I lived (in a flat over Black's Bakery):


My personal favorite, Lock Eck:


Best regards,

Jake

[Mike1]

Thanks for the pictures Mike (and Old Hiker). They sure brought back memories (including the weather).

I'm glad you enjoyed them. Dunoon ranks right up there on my list of favorite places.

HERE is a Web cam you will doubtless enjoy, as well.

And a still image from the same location -



You doubtless recognized the Bell's of Dunoon logo in the Clan Lamont banner, in that first image in the first post, eh?

[Monkey@Arms]

You doubtless recognized the Bell's of Dunoon logo in the Clan Lamont banner, in that first image in the first post, eh?

For those who are curious, Bell's is the main clothing shop and purveyor of fine highland wear in town. While I picked up sweaters (jumpers), socks and a Polaris tartan tie there, ownership of a tank was beyond my means (and imagination) at the time of my residency.

Another great Dunoon related link is the weekly on-line edition of the Dunoon Observer and Argyllshire Standard, even if you've never been there, it provides a peak of small town life in Scotland, warts and all.

Best regards,

Jake

[Mike1]

And if you're in town, Bell's is well worth the visit!