The Castles of Clan Morrison

Clan Morrison are deeply proud of their territory and have claimed vast swathes of land over the centuries. We think that learning about the family’s stunning homelands and grand houses is the perfect way to get to know them better and deepen your connection with your heritage.

We were particularly intrigued by Bognie Castle, also known as Conzie Castle, which was built in Aberdeenshire in the 1660s, when Clan Morrison acquired the local land. The family commissioned the grand, four storey building to signify their power over the area and increase their prestigious reputation, though interestingly, it seems that they never came to inhabit the castle themselves. 

In 1676, Clan Morrison gained ownership of Frendraught House through marriage, and made it their main residence, abandoning the still new Bognie. 

Bognie Castle / Conzie Castly by James Allan

After this, it is thought that the local population used the castle as a source of free building materials, which, along with the wild natural elements, has sadly eroded the once grand structure into a ruin. Only small parts of the north and west walls remain, though the entire east and south wall are still standing to roof level. 

You can view the ruins from a small field entrance alongside the A97, although there is no direct access to the site. 

While it is past its glory days, it still stands as a testament to the Morrison’s influence and their cultural heritage, offering a glimpse into a fascinating past. 

It only makes sense to explore the house that enticed the Morrisons away from Bognie next!

Frendraught House, also located in Aberdeenshire, was originally built as a castle in the 13th century and was owned by Clan Crichton from 1460 until 1676, when it passed to the Morrisons of Bognie through marriage. The site witnessed an extended period of violent clashes between the Crichtons and Clan Gordon and was eventually burnt down in October of 1630 during one particularly dramatic battle. 

Many Gordons were killed, but most of the Crichtons survived. The Laird of Frendraught, James Crichton, was therefore charged with the murder of the Gordons, but was later acquitted. Instead, one of his servants, John Meldrum, took the blame and was executed. 

However, local opinion was that the Laird’s wife, Lady Frendraught was responsible for the blaze. She became so notorious that a local ballad, ‘The Fire of Frendraught,’ number 196 in the Child Ballads, was written about her. 

Frendraught House by James Allan

She died a recluse and since the 18th century, her ghost has been seen in and around Frendraught. In 1938, a loyal boy was shooting in the grounds when he saw a pale, eerie face staring at him from a window. He called a keeper to help him search for the figure, but despite scouring the house from top to bottom, they couldn’t find anyone. 

Countless people over the years have described seeing a lady in a white dress trimmed with gold usually standing or walking along the main staircase or the back of the stairs. The Morrisons even had guests cut their visits short twice because of frightening and mysterious disturbances. 

Despite this, the house is still occupied today! The present building was remodelled in the 1990s but maintains many aspects of earlier iterations. Significant redesigns took place in 1753, the 1790s, 1840s, and 1880s. The oldest remaining features seem to be cellars in the west wing and two small, chamfered windows in the west gable. 

Our final Morrison site of today is Dun Eistean, a fascinating archaeological hotspot in the northeast corner of Lewis with thousands of years of history. It is traditionally considered one of the first strongholds of Clan Morrison.

Dun Eistean occupies a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge across a deep ravine. The edge of the island seems to be protected by a stone wall which is roughly 1.8 m wide. 

Behind the walled enclosure, you can find the remains of a ‘dun,’ or fortified stone house, built to a rectangular plan surrounding an inner oval area. The external rectangle’s walls measure 7m x 5.5m. There is no evidence of a doorway that would have been accessible at ground level, which suggests that access to the dun’s interior could only be reached by a wooden ladder to a first-floor entrance. 

Outside the southern wall lay the foundations of houses built by Clan Morrison in the late 1500s, during the turbulent period following the fall of the Lordship of the Isles in 1497, when the government attempted to break apart the clan system. Throughout the 300 years of this upheaval, clans such as the Morrisons would have determinedly protected their traditional lands against attack, which was likely a key motivator for building these houses.

Dun Eistean by Colin Park

There are numerous fascinating features in the area that point to how life was lived in such a wild and isolated place. For example, not far from the foundations, you can find a ledge known locally as Palla na Biorlinn, used by the residents of Dun Eistean to haul their boats from the water and into safety. 

Underneath the dun, there is also a manmade indent which is thought to have been used as a spot to collect drinking water.

It is also extraordinary to see how many archaeological discoveries have been made on such a small island. In 2001, archaeologists from the University of Glasgow conducted a geophysical survey where they revealed a rock-cut ditch defending the dun with a causeway entrance to the south. 

Another investigation uncovered pottery remains, flint tools, pieces of rusted iron, and even a lead pistol shot that had never been fired. 

If you are feeling as entranced by Dun Eistean as we are, you’ll be happy to learn that you can visit the site. To get there, follow the A857 from Stornoway to Port of Ness. At Habost, the road passes the Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, where there are displays of local artefacts and archives of photographs. From here, continue on the A857 until you see Dun Eistean signposted left at the turn-off to Knockaird. Near the top of the hill, you will find a track that will lead you to the site. 

Access by car is possible, but it’s important to note that the track is very rough! You should also keep in mind that Dun Eistean is surrounded by high cliffs, so children must be supervised at all times. 

If you do plan a visit, be sure to let us know, we’d love to hear about it! 

That brings us to the end of this blog. We hope you have found it interesting to explore Bognie Castle, Frendraught House, and Dun Eistean, and feel both more knowledgeable about Clan Morrison, and more connected to your heritage. 

 

If you would like to learn more about the mighty Morrisons, why not head over to our Clan Morrison page for a comprehensive overview of the family. 

Image Sources:

Conzie Castle (Bognie Castle) by James Allan, CC BY-SA 2.0

Frendraught House by James Allan, CC BY-SA 2.0

Dun Eistean & connecting bridge near Butt of Lewis, taken Saturday, 20 May, 2023 © Colin Park (cc-by-sa/2.0)