The Castles of Clan Cochrane

Where better to start than with the Cochrane’s historic clan seat?

Auchindoun Castle is now an eerie ruin, standing tall over the scenic fields and moorlands of Moray. Once, it was a home fit for royalty, built by a talented member of the Cochrane clan.

It is thought that Thomas Cochrane (also known as Robert Cochrane), a great favourite of King Richard III, may have been employed to build Auchindoun in the 1400s. He rose to the occasion, crafting a vast 4 storey, L-planned tower house castle. To this day, we can see remains of stylish and elegant features, such as an impressive stone vault, which suggest that Cochrane designed Auchindoun to be a fitting status symbol for the king. However, he certainly didn’t sacrifice function for style.

The site housed a stables, brewery, and bakehouse, allowing a fully functioning community to set up home there, while a round tower in the north-west corner would have guarded the stronghold. Even the location was strategic, as the ground beneath the castle falls away sharply to the south and east into the valley of the River Fiddich, putting the occupiers in prime position to control one of the main routes south.

It seems that King Richard was delighted with Cochrane’s work, as he gifted the castle to his younger brother John, the Earl of Mar in the mid-1400s. Unfortunately, the Earl was not able to enjoy this luxurious new home for long, as he was executed for treason in 1480.

This gory turn of events worked out surprisingly well for the Cochrane family. When looking for a replacement Earl of Mar, and owner of Auchindoun, the King could think of no one better than the architect of the building, so he passed the castle and the title onto Thomas Cochrane himself.

Sadly, Thomas was also unable to appreciate his new position for long, as he was killed by a gang of nobles in 1482 as part of a plot to overthrow the king.

The truth about what happened in the following 300 years at Auchindoun is disputed among historians, but it seems certain that they were tumultuous and filled with violent clashes. In the early 1500s, the Ogilvy family purchased the castle, remaining there in relative peace until they sold it on to Sir Adam Gordon in 1594.

In one popular story about the castle’s history, the Gordons reign is portrayed as bloodthirsty and murderous. Supposedly, in 1571, a group of Gordon men set off from Auchindoun to attack the nearby Corgarff Castle, killing many of the occupants and burning the building. There was no way that such an affront could go unpunished, so a small army from Corgarff, led by William Mackintosh, advanced on Auchindoun seeking revenge and set fire to the site, causing widespread damage.

This seemed to have been a harsh blow for Auchindoun and by 1594 it was back in the possession of the Ogilvy family, and by 1725 it lay derelict.

Today, the castle ruins are cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and are recognised as a scheduled monument. For decades, the site was too dangerous for the public to visit, but after a number of safety precautions were taken, Auchindoun opened for tourists in 2007.

We think this would be the perfect place to visit to witness the Cochrane’s immense skill first hand and imagine the clan conflicts that once raged against the now serene backdrop.

Dundonald Castle is also a great pick if you are looking for a Cochrane site to explore. It sits on a high hilltop against the scenic landscape of South Ayrshire and boasts an astonishingly long history!

Some evidence suggests that the land was once home to an ancient hillfort all the way back in 1000 AD. It seems that this stronghold was almost completely destroyed in a raging fire, but that the site was repurposed later to house several medieval castles.

There is no surviving evidence of the first building, but it is commonly theorised to have been built by one of the King’s stewards some time in the 1100s. The second castle was designed by Alexander Stewart in the late 12^th century and was comprised largely of stone. It was one of Scotland’s most impressive baronial homes at the time but was sadly destroyed during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14^th century.

The third castle was the grandest yet, and a large portion of its remains are visible and open to visitors today!

It was built in the 1300s by Robert Stewart, possibly to commemorate his coronation as King Robert II in 1371, and no effort or expense was spared in the construction of this royal home. It was built to be 3 storeys high, with each storey serving a specific purpose. The top floor housed the great hall and was intended for private use by the King and his family, the first-floor hosted public events such as feasts, dances, and court hearings, while the cellars were used to store a variety of rich and luxurious goods.

Over the ensuing centuries, this grand castle passed between a number of powerful owners, from Clan Wallace to King James V. It ended up in the Cochrane’s possession when Sir William Cochrane purchased the estate, castle, and nearby Auchens House in 1638. While many had occupied the land before, the Cochranes arguably had the biggest impact, as in 1669, Sir William was created the very first Earl of Dundonald.

Impressively, the clan retained ownership of Dundonald Castle all the way up until 1953, when the 13^th Earl gifted it to South Ayrshire Council who, in collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland, transformed it into a priceless public attraction.

Today, Dundonald welcomes countless history enthusiasts every year and is equipped with a visitor’s centre, café, museum, and exhibition area. You can find out more on their website here.

Why not take advantage of the Cochrane Earl’s generosity and take a trip to get to know your ancestor’s past even better!

Our final Cochrane site for today is perhaps the best yet for those who would like to immerse themselves in the family’s past.

Culross, a picturesque village in Fife, is a haven for Cochrane heritage. Amongst the quaint cobbled streets and colourful houses, you can find countless nods to the clan. In the main square stands a statue of Thomas Cochrane, the 10^th Earl of Dundonald and legendary navy officer, who grew up in the town.

You can also get a good view of Cochrane’s childhood home, Culross Abbey House, just to the East of Culross Abbey, and see for yourself the early stomping grounds of a boy who would grow up to be one of Scotland’s most admired military heroes.

Culross Church also shows signs of the Cochrane’s impact on the local community. A plaque hangs on the stone walls commemorating Lady Mary Cochrane and the donations she left to the ‘poor of the parish.’

Down by the shore, there is even a small gathering of houses named ‘Cochrane haven,’ demonstrating even further the clan’s great influence over Culross.

If you enjoy a more varied sightseeing experience, it seems this little town would be perfect for you!

Image Sources:

Auchindoun Castle by Bob Marshall - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Auchindoun Castle Courtyard by George Washington Wilson - Aberdeen City Council (Archives, Gallery and Museums Collection), Public Domain

Dundonald Castle by PaulT (Gunther Tschuch) - own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lord Thomas Cochrane statue by HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0