Inverness in Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

The Private Chamber

Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 26, 2018

1. The Private Chamber Marker

Inscription. The Private Chamber The laird of Grant probably entertained close friends here on the first floor and had his bed on the second. Servants may have slept above.

All In the Family
The Grants were based in Strathspey, southeast of Inverness. With Urquhart, they took over a distant estate racked by clan feuds, raiding and lawlessness.

The family consolidated the castle around this tower after the final MacDonald attack in 1545. Parapets and turrets were added in the early 1600s.

The Broken Heart
‘Gur e m’ athair rinn an dò-bheart Mise chumail gun do phòsadh.’
‘Tha mo run air a’ ghille’
‘My father did an evil thing Keeping me from marrying you.’
‘I Love the Lad’

The laird's daughter Mary Grant is said to have composed a defiant love song after her father held the bard and cattle rustler Dòmhnall Donn captive at Urquhart in the late 1600s. Dòmhnall was later executed.

Did You Know …
Urquhart's estate with its tree-covered hills was renowned for hunting, the passion of the nobility. Lords and even monarchs chased deer through the forests here. Venison was eaten at feasts and festivities and almost 10 per cent of the animal bones found at Urquhart came from deer.

The Castle Falls
The

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last noble resident of Urquhart was Mary Ogilvy, mother of James, laird of Grant. An unpopular landlord, she described the locals as 'knavis' and was chased out when an armed band ransacked the castle at Christmas 1644.

Once abandoned Urquhart rapidly deteriorated. The south wall of the tower collapsed during a storm in 1715. In 1912, the castle passed into State care.

( photo captions )
- Right: James Grant, owner of Urquhart, and his wife Mary Stewart in 1658.
- Left: Hunters depicted in one of the Unicorn Tapestries at Stirling Castle. - Below: A hunting arrowhead found in the castle and displayed in the visitor centre.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1545.

Location. 57° 19.474′ N, 4° 26.492′ W. Marker is in Inverness, Scotland, in Highland. Marker can be reached from Scotland Route A82, 3.7 kilometers south of River Enrick (Route A831), on the left when traveling south. Located at Urquhart Castle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Inverness, Scotland IV63 6XL, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The New Kitchen (here, next to this marker); The Grant Tower (a few steps from this marker); The Chapel (a few steps from this marker); The Great Hall (within shouting distance

Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 26, 2018

2. The Private Chamber Marker

of this marker); The Gatehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Destroying the Gatehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Raid of 1545 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Kitchen (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Inverness.

Also see . . .
1. Urquhart Castle. (Submitted on December 9, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Urquhart Castle on Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 9, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 221 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.