The Castles of Clan Lamont

It makes sense to start with the Lamont’s historic clan seat!

In a scenic spot around 7 miles south-west of Dunoon, you can find the eerie ruins of Toward Castle. Originally built for the family in the 15^th-century, the castle was once an intimidating and impressive sight, complete with a vaulted basement, parapet, decorated arched gateway, and courtyard boasting numerous buildings including a hall, kitchen, and a bakehouse.

It was a castle fit for the most distinguished of guests, and even Mary Queen of Scots herself visited the Lamonts at their striking home in 1563!

However, less than 100 years later, the clan were to lose their cherished seat in the tragic and notorious Dunoon Massacre.

In 1646, Clan Campbell invaded the Lamonts' land, capturing numerous clansmen and besieging the Castles of Toward and Ascog. Sir James Lamont, the Clan Chief, is said to have ‘reached honourable terms’ with the Campbells and agreed to surrender the castles in order to save the lives of his people.

Unfortunately, however, Clan Campbell betrayed their word and imprisoned the chief, slaughtered more than 200 Lamont men, women, and children, and destroyed their forfeited castles.

It is said that the angry spirits of those who suffered during this tragedy can still be seen roaming amongst Toward’s ruins, unable to move on from the ghastly betrayal.

Glasgow merchant, Kirkman Finlay, braved the wrath of these disgruntled ghosts when he built a grand home on the ground of the ruin in 1820, naming it ‘Castle Toward’ in tribute of the Lamonts' old seat. Finlay hired renowned architect David Hamilton to design the house and ordered that it be made in the popular Gothic Revival style. Toward initially served as Finlay’s family home but went on to play a number of more interesting and unusual roles!

During WWII, the castle was repurposed as a military training centre and temporarily named ‘HMS Brontosaurus.’ It housed soldiers training to perform raids and landings on enemy beaches. It quickly built a reputation as a highly prestigious institution and was even visited by both Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten!

After the war, Toward was repurposed again when the Corporation of Glasgow bought the building and transformed it into a school for children from deprived backgrounds. It later operated as an outdoor education centre for innumerable young people and hosted residential courses in music and art for groups such as the Glasgow Schools’ Symphony Orchestra and West of Scotland Schools’ Concert Band.

It is heartening to see that the site of so much suffering for the Lamonts has also provided endless opportunities and fun for generations of Scottish children!

Sadly, the same cannot be said for Ascog Castle.

Ascog, also sometimes referred to as ‘Asgog,’ can be found on the northwest shore of Asgog Loch, in the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, and was once an imposing Lamont stronghold. The earliest record that mentions the castle dates back to 1581, but historians estimate that it may have been built as long ago as the mid-15^th century.

In 1646, Ascog suffered the same fate as Toward Castle, and was besieged by Clan Campbell during the infamous Dunoon massacre. The Campbells had no mercy in their attack and Ascog was completely destroyed. Now, it is entirely roofless, only three walls of the keep are still standing and there are no identifiable remains of the courtyard.

The ruins are located on somewhat treacherous and boggy land, so it is not the easiest Lamont site to visit, but there are a number of idyllic holiday homes nearby that perhaps you could stay in if you are looking to connect with your clan ancestors on a scenic, countryside break!

Our final Lamont site for today is also a popular holiday destination.

What is now known as the Ardlamont Estate started its life as Ardlamont Castle. It gained fame when it was named as Clan Lamont’s new seat in 1646, following the destruction of Castles Toward and Ascog.

The Lamonts maintained ownership of the grounds for centuries. The estate as it is today was developed in 1820 by Major General John Lamont, who made sure to retain elements of the old castle. The grand house at the centre of the lands was built to be two storeys high, with the main block having slate roofs, and the smaller, single storey wings having sloping gables.

Ardlamont served as a beloved family home for the General until it was sold in 1893. However, the story didn’t end there! Soon after, the house became embroiled in the infamous tragedy of the Ardlamont Murders.

On the 10^th of August 1893, the new tenant of Ardlamont, Alfred John Monson, took his wealthy young student, Cecil Hambrough, out hunting in the estate’s extensive grounds. Shortly after the pair had headed out, local workers heard gun shots, then saw Monson running back to the house holding a weapon.

These witness accounts, plus the fact that the financially struggling Monson had recently persuaded Cecil to take life insurance out in his name, would suggest that convicting Monson for murder should have been easy.

Shockingly, however, Monson received a ‘not proven’ verdict in court, with the jury deciding that there simply was not enough evidence to decide if he had killed the young man or not. The trial has become notorious in legal history, not least because 2 of the expert witnesses in attendance, Joseph Bell and Dr Henry Littlejohn, inspired the creation of famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes!

Today, Ardlamont Estate has put its grisly past behind it and is now a beautiful holiday spot, complete with 1 main house and 2 adjoining, cozy cottages. It is situated in the heart of 460 acres of stunning woodlands, and surrounded by hills, glens, and coastlines. If you are an adventurer at heart, you’ll be spoiled for choice, as there are plenty of spots for sailing, walking, and cycling. If you are more of an animal lover, you’ll also be excited to know that Ardlamont is a nature hotspot, with deer, buzzards, otters, eagles, and more all making their home amongst the idyllic countryside.

Image Sources:

Castle Toward By William Craig, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7886086

Asgog castle ruins, Scotland By Gary Campbell-Hall from Edinburgh, UK - Asgog castle ruins, Scotland, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71824184

Ardlamont House by John Ferguson, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13177401 (image has been brightened)