Rannoch Barracks
Encyclopedia
Rannoch Barracks was a military barracks constructed in 1746 at Bridge of Gaur, Perthshire
, Scotland, at the western end of Loch Rannoch
. The barracks were built in response to the Jacobite
uprising of 1745
.
The present Rannoch Barracks is the Scottish residence of Baron Pearson of Rannoch, a British businessman and the former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Situated on a 6000 acres (2,428.1 ha) estate, the shooting lodge is named after the former barracks.
uprisings, and to oveawe the Robertson clan
, though, by a strange quirk of fate, they would later become the residence of the chief. Following the defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden
(1746), "Butcher" Cumberland ordered his troops to show no quarter
to any remaining Jacobite rebels. The Hanoverian Army (known as "Redcoats
") then embarked upon the so-called "pacification" of Jacobite areas of the Highlands
. Numerous barracks were constructed throughout the Highlands to house the Government troops, including one at the head of Loch Rannoch at Braes of Rannoch (now called Bridge of Gaur). It is likely that it was a thatched-roof construction, more quarters than castle.
Rannoch
's clans had played a full part in the Jacobite uprisings. All those the troops believed to be rebels were killed, as were some non-combatants. "Rebellious" settlements were burned and livestock was confiscated on a large scale. Some in the Highland Jacobite regions survived the Redcoats' ravaging of the countryside only to starve the following winter.
When the reprisals ceased, the warriors returned. However, without crops or cattle, there seemed no alternative open to them but thieving, and sheer hunger drove them to commit savage deeds. A Captain Patton of Guise’s Regiment said, "the people of this country [Rannoch] are the greatest thieves in Scotland and were all in the late rebellion, except for a few. They have a great number of arms but they keep them concealed from us."
Places such as Banff
, Aberdeen
, Angus
and Mearns
suffered from the depredations of the thieves of Rannoch. In the 1747, a band of Rannoch thieves was intercepted and forty head of cattle were recovered from them. There are dozens of similar reports which gave a fair indication of the problems facing the soldiers.
The infamous Sergeant Mhor (the great Sergeant), an ex-solder who led one of the gangs, was held in Rannoch Barracks before being taken to Inverness
where he was condemned as a thief and executed. He protested his innocence saying he had "never killed a man but in self-defence: that he never took what was not his own, except a sheep from the hills, to give him and his food."
The soldiers struggled to cope with the lawlessness and aimed to bring peace to the area. Dugald Buchanan
(1716–1768), a teacher and an evangelist, preaching at large open air meetings, which upwards of 500 people attended, showing great courage as he persuaded the "wild men" to give up their lawlessness and savage ways. He and his wife taught them new trades and crafts. They worked with James Small, formerly an Ensign in Lord Loudoun’s Regiment, who had been appointed by the Commissioners for the Forfeited Estates to run the Rannoch estates, which had been seized from the clan chieftains who had supported the Jacobites. The tiny hamlet at the east end of Loch Rannoch, now known as Kinloch Rannoch
, was enlarged and settled, mainly by soldiers being discharged from the army, but also by displaced crofters.
A wide range of agricultural and other improvement works were undertaken across the estates, including drainage, road making and bridge building. Slowly peace and prosperity were brought to Rannoch. Flax and potatoes were introduced, mills built and spinning and weaving taught; a mason, joiner and wheelwright passed on their skills; a shoemaker and tailor set up business.
Buchanan is commemorated by a monument erected in The Square at Kinloch Rannoch and by the first Church built at the Braes of Rannoch, or Georgetown as it was known at the time, named after the King George II. This latter name was swiftly changed again after the Redcoats' withdrawal from the area.
The first church in Bridge of Gaur was built a few hundred yards west of the current church in 1776. This was replaced by a church on the present site in 1855, until it in turn was replaced by the current church in 1907. The flagstones on the chancel floor in the church are from one of the early churches.
No one knows why the two earlier churches were replaced, and the only reminder of the original church is the bellcote, which was moved to each of its replacements in turn. The Rev Archibald Eneas Robertson (1870–1958), first ascender of all the Munro
s (hills in Scotland over 3,000ft), was minister here between 1907 and 1920.
George Douglas, 2nd Earl of Dumbarton
(1687–1749) was, reputedly, stationed at Rannoch Barracks. Whilst there, he fathered a child whose descendants have taken the surname Barracks.
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...
, Scotland, at the western end of Loch Rannoch
Loch Rannoch
Loch Rannoch is a large body of fresh water in Perth and Kinross, Scotland.The loch is over long in a west-east direction with an average width of about . The River Tummel begins at its eastern end. The Tay Forest Park lies along its southern shore...
. The barracks were built in response to the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
uprising of 1745
Jacobite Rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745, often referred to as "The 'Forty-Five," was the attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart. The rising occurred during the War of the Austrian Succession when most of the British Army was on the European continent...
.
The present Rannoch Barracks is the Scottish residence of Baron Pearson of Rannoch, a British businessman and the former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Situated on a 6000 acres (2,428.1 ha) estate, the shooting lodge is named after the former barracks.
The barracks
The barracks were built in 1746 in response to the JacobiteJacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
uprisings, and to oveawe the Robertson clan
Clan Robertson
Clan Donnachaidh , also known as Clan Robertson, is one of the oldest of all Scottish clans.-Origins:There are two main theories as to the origins of the Clan Donnachaidh:...
, though, by a strange quirk of fate, they would later become the residence of the chief. Following the defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
(1746), "Butcher" Cumberland ordered his troops to show no quarter
No quarter
A victor gives no quarter when the victor shows no clemency or mercy and refuses to spare the life in return for the surrender at discretion of a vanquished opponent....
to any remaining Jacobite rebels. The Hanoverian Army (known as "Redcoats
Red coat (British army)
Red coat or Redcoat is a historical term used to refer to soldiers of the British Army because of the red uniforms formerly worn by the majority of regiments. From the late 17th century to the early 20th century, the uniform of most British soldiers, , included a madder red coat or coatee...
") then embarked upon the so-called "pacification" of Jacobite areas of the Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. Numerous barracks were constructed throughout the Highlands to house the Government troops, including one at the head of Loch Rannoch at Braes of Rannoch (now called Bridge of Gaur). It is likely that it was a thatched-roof construction, more quarters than castle.
Rannoch
Rannoch
Rannoch is an area of the Scottish Highlands between the A9 road, to the east, and the A82, to the west. The area is crossed from south to north by the West Highland railway line....
's clans had played a full part in the Jacobite uprisings. All those the troops believed to be rebels were killed, as were some non-combatants. "Rebellious" settlements were burned and livestock was confiscated on a large scale. Some in the Highland Jacobite regions survived the Redcoats' ravaging of the countryside only to starve the following winter.
When the reprisals ceased, the warriors returned. However, without crops or cattle, there seemed no alternative open to them but thieving, and sheer hunger drove them to commit savage deeds. A Captain Patton of Guise’s Regiment said, "the people of this country [Rannoch] are the greatest thieves in Scotland and were all in the late rebellion, except for a few. They have a great number of arms but they keep them concealed from us."
Places such as Banff
Banff, Aberdeenshire
Banff is a town in the Banff and Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Banff is situated on Banff Bay and faces the town of Macduff across the estuary of the River Deveron...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
and Mearns
Kincardineshire
The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns was a local government county on the coast of northeast Scotland...
suffered from the depredations of the thieves of Rannoch. In the 1747, a band of Rannoch thieves was intercepted and forty head of cattle were recovered from them. There are dozens of similar reports which gave a fair indication of the problems facing the soldiers.
The infamous Sergeant Mhor (the great Sergeant), an ex-solder who led one of the gangs, was held in Rannoch Barracks before being taken to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
where he was condemned as a thief and executed. He protested his innocence saying he had "never killed a man but in self-defence: that he never took what was not his own, except a sheep from the hills, to give him and his food."
The soldiers struggled to cope with the lawlessness and aimed to bring peace to the area. Dugald Buchanan
Dugald Buchanan
Dugald Buchanan was a Scottish poet writing in Scots and Scottish Gaelic who helped the Rev. James Stuart or Stewart of Killin to translate the New Testament into Scottish Gaelic....
(1716–1768), a teacher and an evangelist, preaching at large open air meetings, which upwards of 500 people attended, showing great courage as he persuaded the "wild men" to give up their lawlessness and savage ways. He and his wife taught them new trades and crafts. They worked with James Small, formerly an Ensign in Lord Loudoun’s Regiment, who had been appointed by the Commissioners for the Forfeited Estates to run the Rannoch estates, which had been seized from the clan chieftains who had supported the Jacobites. The tiny hamlet at the east end of Loch Rannoch, now known as Kinloch Rannoch
Kinloch Rannoch
Kinloch Rannoch is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, at the eastern end of Loch Rannoch, 18 miles west of Pitlochry, on the banks of the River Tummel.The village is a tourist and outdoor pursuits centre...
, was enlarged and settled, mainly by soldiers being discharged from the army, but also by displaced crofters.
A wide range of agricultural and other improvement works were undertaken across the estates, including drainage, road making and bridge building. Slowly peace and prosperity were brought to Rannoch. Flax and potatoes were introduced, mills built and spinning and weaving taught; a mason, joiner and wheelwright passed on their skills; a shoemaker and tailor set up business.
Buchanan is commemorated by a monument erected in The Square at Kinloch Rannoch and by the first Church built at the Braes of Rannoch, or Georgetown as it was known at the time, named after the King George II. This latter name was swiftly changed again after the Redcoats' withdrawal from the area.
The first church in Bridge of Gaur was built a few hundred yards west of the current church in 1776. This was replaced by a church on the present site in 1855, until it in turn was replaced by the current church in 1907. The flagstones on the chancel floor in the church are from one of the early churches.
No one knows why the two earlier churches were replaced, and the only reminder of the original church is the bellcote, which was moved to each of its replacements in turn. The Rev Archibald Eneas Robertson (1870–1958), first ascender of all the Munro
Munro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
s (hills in Scotland over 3,000ft), was minister here between 1907 and 1920.
George Douglas, 2nd Earl of Dumbarton
Earl of Dumbarton
Earl of Dumbarton was a peerage title in the Peerage of Scotland created on 9 March 1675 for the younger brother of the 1st Earl of Selkirk, Lieutenant General Lord George Douglas. The earl was also Lord Douglas of Ettrick which he had as subsidiary title...
(1687–1749) was, reputedly, stationed at Rannoch Barracks. Whilst there, he fathered a child whose descendants have taken the surname Barracks.