Clan Chisholm and the History of Erchless Castle

The Castle's Beginnings

Erchless Castle was built in the 13th century by the Bissett family. In 1368, Alexander de Chisholme married Margaret, Lady of Erchless, at which time Erchless Castle became the seat of Clan Chisholm. Their key lands were Strathglass, Glen Affric and the Ross-shire Highlands. Following the Scottish Reformation of 1560, the early castle, a timber structure on a motte, was replaced by the L-shape stone tower house that is still in evidence today. In 1895, the Victorian wing was added and echoed the Scottish Baronial-style that was popular in the Highlands at the time. It is an historic Category B-listed building.

Disunity and Uprising

During the Jacobite Uprising of 1715, Chisholm was a clan divided. Alexander’s sympathies were firmly with the Jacobites whereas his brother, William, was sympathetic with the Hanoverians. This scenario was common amongst clans and led to even greater division in the Battle of Culloden on April 16th, 1746. The Chief tried to stay neutral to preserve his estate but many joined Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army in a bid to force the English out of the Highlands. Led by the youngest son of the chief, Roderick de Chisholme, 30 clansmen, including Roderick himself, were killed in the battle. In the aftermath, three Chisholm men, Alexander, Roderick and Hugh, were part of a group who sought to hide and protect Bonnie Prince Charlie as he fled King George II’s troops. He finally fled to France where he lived in exile for the rest of his life.

Find out more at the Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre just a 45 minute drive away.

In The Aftermath

Following Culloden, Alexander, the 22nd Chief, resisted raising rents for tenant farmers which left many Highlanders destitute. The 23rd Chief, his half-brother, William, burned farmers out of their homes to make way for sheep grazing. Many took the opportunity to emigrate to Nova Scotia. Alexander William Chisholm, the 24th Chief of Clan Chisholm, completed the clearance of Strathglass aided by his mother, Elizabeth. He served as an MP for Inverness-shire between 1835 and 1838 and supported the Reform Act of 1831 that enfranchised more men and was also in favour of establishing schools considering it a moral necessity to be able to read scripture. He died at the age of 28 when he was struck down by an aortic aneurysm.

The Clan Chisholm Society was established in the late 19th century by James Chisholm and was re-established by his granddaughter, Mairi, and her nephew, Chief Alistair Chisholm, in 1951. Today, it connects members of Clan Chisholm from around the world including those whose ancestors fled as a result of the clearances; members travel to International Clan Chisholm Gatherings to rediscover their family heritage and rekindle a sense of belonging to the Highlands.

The Clan Chisholm Society

Clan Chisholm Burial Ground

At Cnoc an Tighe Mhoir (Hill of the Big House), 280 metres north of Erchless Castle, lies the Clan Chisholm burial ground. Built on the site of a medieval motte and bailey castle, it contains the burial monuments of chiefs and other notable clan members.

The Current Owners

While Erchless Castle maintains its status as the Clan Chisholm seat, Andrew Francis Hamish Chisholm, known as Hamish, doesn’t reside at Erchless Castle anymore. The current owners are descendants of Sir Robert Lawrence whose family acquired the castle in the 1960’s. His son The Hon. Maurice Erik William Robson MP inherited it from his father in the 1982. His son and daughter, Jamie and Natasha are the current owners of the castle.