Inverneill House
Encyclopedia
Inverneill House is a country house in Argyll
, western Scotland. It stands on the west shore of Loch Fyne
, around 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Lochgilphead
. Although the house is not listed, the walled gardens and mausoleum on the estate are protected as category B listed buildings.
]
The lands of Inverneill first came into Campbell
hands in 1480 when the lands of Knapdale
were granted to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll
. In 1773, it passed to a branch of Campbell of Craignish
: Sir Archibald Campbell
became the owner of the estate. Though neither the largest nor the grandest of his several estates, it was Archibald's favourite, but he was unable to live on the land as he was appointed Governor of Jamaica and then of Madras in India, dieing a few months after his return. It was his elder brother, Sir James Campbell of Killean, Perthshire
, who first made a home at Inverneill, using it as a summer 'cottage' for his family.
The house was of a good size in those days, having dining and drawing rooms, 8 bedrooms, a housekeeper's room, servants' rooms, pantry, kitchen and scullery, as well as outhouses containing wash house, laundry and dairy. The walled garden with its 20 feet (6.1 m) high wall containing two turrets was reputed to be one of the finest in Scotland for fruit and vegetables of all kinds.
Lt Col. Duncan Campbell, 7th of Inverneill, added the three-storey wing around 1890. The house was occupied by the Campbell family until 1955 when it was sold, though the family continue to own Inverneill Island. The last two occupants were the Misses Olive and Una Campbell. Their sister Ysobel who had married and became Mrs. Stewart of Fasnacloich was the founder of the Scottish Country Dance Society
and became its first Secretary. A country dance named "Inverneill House" was composed in her honour.
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
, western Scotland. It stands on the west shore of Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It extends inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs...
, around 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Lochgilphead
Lochgilphead
Lochgilphead is a town and former burgh in Scotland, with a population of around 3,000 people. It is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute. The town lies at the end of Loch Gilp and lies on the banks of the Crinan Canal....
. Although the house is not listed, the walled gardens and mausoleum on the estate are protected as category B listed buildings.
]
The lands of Inverneill first came into Campbell
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
hands in 1480 when the lands of Knapdale
Knapdale
Knapdale forms a rural district of Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands, adjoining Kintyre to the south, and divided from the rest of Argyll to the north by the Crinan Canal. It includes two parishes, North Knapdale and South Knapdale....
were granted to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll
Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll
Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman.-Biography:He was the son of Gillespic Campbell, Master of Campbell and Elizabeth Somerville. Elizabeth Somerville was the daughter of John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville and Helen Hepburn...
. In 1773, it passed to a branch of Campbell of Craignish
Campbell of Craignish
The Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time...
: Sir Archibald Campbell
Archibald Campbell (British Army officer)
General Sir Archibald Campbell KB served as Governor of Jamaica and Madras. He was a major Scottish landowner, Heritable Usher of the White Rod for Scotland and a Member of Parliament for the Stirling Burghs.-Birth:...
became the owner of the estate. Though neither the largest nor the grandest of his several estates, it was Archibald's favourite, but he was unable to live on the land as he was appointed Governor of Jamaica and then of Madras in India, dieing a few months after his return. It was his elder brother, Sir James Campbell of Killean, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, who first made a home at Inverneill, using it as a summer 'cottage' for his family.
The house was of a good size in those days, having dining and drawing rooms, 8 bedrooms, a housekeeper's room, servants' rooms, pantry, kitchen and scullery, as well as outhouses containing wash house, laundry and dairy. The walled garden with its 20 feet (6.1 m) high wall containing two turrets was reputed to be one of the finest in Scotland for fruit and vegetables of all kinds.
Lt Col. Duncan Campbell, 7th of Inverneill, added the three-storey wing around 1890. The house was occupied by the Campbell family until 1955 when it was sold, though the family continue to own Inverneill Island. The last two occupants were the Misses Olive and Una Campbell. Their sister Ysobel who had married and became Mrs. Stewart of Fasnacloich was the founder of the Scottish Country Dance Society
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society , was founded in 1923 as the Scottish Country Dance Society by Jean Milligan and Ysobel Stewart of Fasnacloich, who wanted to preserve country dancing as performed in Scotland, country dancing having fallen into disuse after the influx of continental...
and became its first Secretary. A country dance named "Inverneill House" was composed in her honour.
Campbells of Inverneill from 1773
- General Sir Archibald CampbellArchibald Campbell (British Army officer)General Sir Archibald Campbell KB served as Governor of Jamaica and Madras. He was a major Scottish landowner, Heritable Usher of the White Rod for Scotland and a Member of Parliament for the Stirling Burghs.-Birth:...
, 1st of Inverneill (1739-1791) - Sir James Campbell, 2nd of Inverneill (1737-1805), M.P., of Killean
- Lt.-General Sir James Campbell, 1st and last Bt., of Inverneill; 3rd of Inverneill (1763-1819)
- Captain John Campbell, 4th of Inverneill (1766-1822)
- Duncan Campbell, 5th of Inverneill (1771-1840)
- James Archibald Campbell, 6th of Inverneill (1800-1878), D.L., J.P.
- Lt. Colonel Duncan Campbell, 7th of Inverneill (1842-1922), O.B.E., D.L., J.P.
- Lt. Colonel Duncan Campbell, 8th of Inverneill (1880-1954), J.P.
- John Lorne CampbellJohn Lorne CampbellJohn Lorne Campbell was a Scottish historian, farmer, environmentalist and folklore scholar.-Biography:In the 1930s Campbell was living on the Hebridean island of Barra where, with the author Compton Mackenzie, he founded the Sea League to fight for the rights of local fisherman and organised a...
, 9th of Inverneill (1906-1996) - Colin Campbell, 10th of Inverneill (1912-1998)
- Niall Diarmid Campbell, 11th of Inverneill (b.1948)