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Clan Taylor’s history is written across the countryside of Scotland, and we can see clear traces of early clan members' lives at fascinating sites located from Aberdeenshire, to Argyll and Bute, to East Lothian. With these certain sites being related to a specific clan, taking a deeper look into them helps us to find out as much as possible and tell you all about it. So let's take a look at the Sites of Clan Taylor!
Discover the Sites of Clan Taylor
Cowal
We’d like to start our journey through Clan Taylor’s lands on the West Coast of Scotland, where the scenic Cowal peninsula has a particularly strong connection to the family, due to the infamous Donald 'Taillear Dubh na Tuaghe'.
Donald lived during the time of Mary Queen of Scots, and was the son of Ewen Cameron, 14th chief of Clan Cameron. His mother was a daughter of the chief of Clan MacDougall. He was born out of wedlock, so a tailor’s wife cared for him as a baby. Because of this, and his shock of black hair, people called him 'An Taillear Dubh', or 'the dark tailor'.
As he grew, he became terrifyingly skilled at fighting with his signature weapon, the Lochaber axe, earning him the rest of his nickname. He went on to become one of the era’s greatest warriors, and was both feared and admired as an infamous presence on the battlefield. Seeking to claim his own territory, the mighty Donald, along with a group of loyal followers, made their way to Cowal, establishing a strong base in the area. This branch of Taylors remained there for generations, becoming known as the ‘Mac-an-taillears,’ or ‘sons of the tailor.’
Clan Taylor’s connection to Cowal illustrates the complicated nature of Scottish clan history. While the Taylors are recognised as an armigerous clan in their own right, the Cowal branch is also traditionally regarded as a sept of Clan Cameron. This dual connection reflects the way Scottish families could develop different identities through kinship.
Today, Cowal’s mountains, forests, lochs and coastal scenery provide a stunning backdrop for anyone who wants to explore Clan Taylor’s history. Walking through the peninsula, it is easy to imagine the rugged environment in which the Mac-an-taillears lived. If you make the trip, you’ll be spoilt for choice on how to spend your time! Cowal has long been famous for its abundant leisure opportunities. There are countless beautiful walking trails, including the 57-mile Loch Lomond and Cowal Way, which is frequently voted one of the nation’s most-loved hikes.
For a more relaxed experience, there is the ethereal Puck’s Glen, where you can wander past overhanging moss and cascading waterfalls. The nearby Benmore Botanic Garden boasts 150 year old redwoods, while local woodlands are home to more than 150 tree species! Cowal also hosts the world’s largest Highland games, featuring the oldest pipe band competition anywhere in the world.
Dunbar Castle
Our next Taylor site places the clan against the turbulent backdrop of medieval politics, proving that the family were significant characters right from the beginning.
The dramatic ruins of Dunbar Castle, looking out over the North Sea in East Lothian, are now quiet and peaceful, but the Castle once played a key role in the first War of Scottish Independence, and served as a prison for one brave member of the Taylor clan, Brye le Taillur.
In 1296, Edward I invaded Scotland. King John Balliol had signed a treaty with France, Edward’s enemy, which incensed Edward, as he viewed it as a deep betrayal. Scotland and England’s armies met at Dunbar to battle on the 27th of April. Scotland had a strong position on some high ground to the west, which forced the English army to cross a gully intersected by the Spott Burn to meet them. As they did so, their ranks broke up, causing the Scots to think they were leaving the field, prompting them to abandon their positions and start a disorderly downhill charge.
However, once they reached the English troops, they found that they had reformed and were actually advancing in perfect order. The English took advantage of the confusion to lead one precise cavalry charge, beating the Scottish army quickly and efficiently. While it is thought that there was only one casualty of note, about 100 Scottish knights were captured and taken prisoner, including Bryce le Taillur. Taillur was held alongside some extremely significant figures, such as Andrew Murray, who would later escape and go on to beat Edward’s army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
While the original Dunbar Castle was huge, measuring more than 50 metres from east to west and more than 64 metres from the north to south, it unfortunately now stands in ruins, and has been closed to the public since the 1990s. However, you can still get a good view of the site from Dunbar harbour and pier.
The battlefield itself was added to the Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland in 2012, and while Historic Environment Scotland have reported that no archaeological discoveries have been made so far, they theorise that weaponry from the battle may still lie undiscovered in the topsoil.
Maybe one day le Taillur’s weapon will be unearthed!
Kirktonhill Castle
Our final Clan Taylor spot for today is Kirktonhill Castle, which lies in Aberdeenshire, and came into Clan Taylor’s hands in the 18th century. The old castle was later replaced by Kirktonhill House, a large mansion.
The house was torn down in the 1960s, but you can still find Kirktonhill Tower nearby, a three-story building that is thought to have been built as decoration, not for any practical purpose.
We hope you have enjoyed exploring these Taylor sites with us, and now feel a bit closer to this mighty family. To learn more, head to our webpage for a comprehensive overview of Clan Taylor’s long and winding history as well as the tartans belonging to them, and be sure to keep an eye out for plenty more Taylor content coming this month!
Image Sources:
Cowal Way View by Alan O'Dowd, CC BY-SA 2.0
Dunbar Castle Ruins by Carrie Sanderson
Kirkton of Mailer and Strathearn from Kirkton Hill, taken Monday, 21 March 2011 - by © Iain A Robertson CC BY-SA 2.0
