Barony of Muirton facts for kids
The Barony of Muirton is a historic area in Scotland, near the town of Forres. It's located along the Findhorn River in a region called Moray.
A barony was like a special land area in the past. It was owned by a "baron" who was a bit like a local ruler for the king. Barons were in charge of keeping order and sometimes even providing soldiers. Over time, these powers changed, and now a barony title is more about history and heritage than ruling land.
The first official document for the Barony of Muirton was given in 1532. It was given to Robert Reid, who was the Abbot of Kinloss Abbey. Today, the title of Baron of Muirton is held by Dr. Richard Bruce Culbert. He is the 32nd Baron of Muirton.
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Where is the Barony of Muirton?
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The exact borders of the Barony of Muirton have changed over many years. At one point, it included Kinloss Abbey and its lands. It also included the town of Kinloss and the town of Muirton itself.
The area stretched to the towns of Blackstob and Hatton. It also included the special port town of Findhorn. This means it covered the mouth of the Findhorn River and the nearby coast. On a modern map, this is roughly the area from the abbey ruins to Kinloss Golf Course. It goes all the way to Findhorn and includes Kinloss Barracks.
Kinloss Abbey: A Rich History
Kinloss Abbey was built in 1150 by King David I. It was home to a group of monks called Cistercians. These monks originally came from Melrose Abbey.
The abbey became very rich and powerful. In 1312, Robert the Bruce gave the monks valuable rights to fish for salmon in the Findhorn River. This helped the abbey become one of the biggest and wealthiest religious places in Scotland.
One of the most famous abbots was Robert Reid. He built several parts of the abbey, including a library. When he died, he left his money to help start the University of Edinburgh.
The abbey was not part of the Barony of Muirton at first. But in 1532, the first official document for the Barony was given to Abbot Robert Reid. Later, in 1611, both the abbey lands and the Barony of Muirton became part of a larger area called the Lordship of Kinloss.
After the Reformation in Scotland in 1560, the abbey was left empty. Many of its stones were taken by Cromwell in 1650. He used them to build a fort in Inverness. Today, some ruins of the abbey still stand and are part of a local cemetery.
Findhorn: A Historic Port Town
Findhorn has always been a part of the Barony of Muirton. It is one of the oldest seaports along the Moray Firth coast. It was a busy trading port long ago. Ships would export grain and timber to places like Holland. They would also bring in wine and other goods.
There was a lot of salmon fishing at the river's mouth. Herring fishing was also important at sea. In the 1600s, Findhorn was the main port for the Moray region. However, trade slowly decreased as ships became too big for its harbour.
In 1661, Findhorn was officially made a "burgh of barony" by the Scottish Parliament. This gave it special trading rights. The town is located on the east side of the Findhorn River's mouth. It seems the original town was further northwest. It was swallowed by the sea in 1701 due to erosion.
Today, Findhorn is a quiet town. It has places for leisure boats. The Findhorn Ecovillage is also nearby. It's a special community focused on sustainable living.
Kinloss Barracks: A Military Base
In 1938, before World War II, the government bought a lot of the barony's land. They needed it to build a new Royal Air Force base called RAF Kinloss. The airbase opened in 1939 as a flight training center. It had three grass runways.
By 1940, it was used by Bomber Command. In 1942, the runways were paved. The main runway was made longer.
After the war, the base's job changed. It became a center for finding submarines and for search and rescue missions. In 2012, the base was given to the British Army. It is now known as Kinloss Barracks.
Two regiments of Royal Engineers are currently based there. The airfield is still used as a backup landing strip. It can also be used for aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth.
The Town of Muirton
In 1674, King Charles II gave James Calder of Muirton permission. He could use some of the Muirton lands to create a "burgh of barony" for Muirton. This meant it could have a weekly market and two yearly fairs. An old map from 1870 shows a few buildings labeled "Muirtown." This spot is now part of Kinloss Barracks.
The Town of Kinloss
In 1497, King James IV gave the Abbots of Kinloss a special charter. This allowed them to create a burgh of barony for the "town before the gate of the monastery." This town could hold a market every Tuesday. It could also have fairs twice a year.
The number of people living in Kinloss has not changed much over the centuries. In 1755, there were 1,119 people. In 1841, there were 1,202. Today, the population is around 1,420. The modern town is right next to Kinloss Barracks.
Barons of Muirton
The Barony of Muirton has been connected to several important families over time.
The Robertsons
The first official document for the Barony was given to Abbot Robert Reid in 1532. However, John Robertson is known as the first Baron of Muirton. His son, Gilbert, married Janet Reid, who was Abbot Robert Reid's sister. This family link likely led to the Abbot making Robertson his vassal, or loyal follower.
John Robertson was followed by his son, Gilbert. Then Gilbert's son, David Robertson, became the third Baron. After him, William Robertson became the Baron.
The Bruces
Mary Queen of Scots visited Kinloss Abbey in 1562. After that, the church lands were taken by the Crown. Edward Bruce gained much of this land in 1601. He was related to Abbot Robert Reid.
Edward Bruce sold the abbey buildings but kept the lands of Muirton. Muirton and the remaining abbey lands were then combined into the Barony of Kinloss. Edward became a very important person. He was a Lord and later became a Privy Councillor in London.
In 1611, his son, Edward Bruce, became the 2nd Lord Kinloss. This Edward was killed in a duel in 1613. His brother, Thomas Bruce, took over. He later became the 1st Earl of Elgin.
The Mackenzies
During a time of wars in Scotland, the lands of Muirton came into the hands of the Mackenzie family. After several family members held the lands, Alexander Mackenzie was given an official document for the Barony of Muirton.
The Innes Family
In 1672, after the wars ended, Sir Robert Innes of Muirton was given a new charter for the Barony. His son, also named Robert, followed him. Then, Sir Robert Calder, who was married to Grisel Innes, became the Baron.
The Roses of Kilravock
After a period of change around 1688, the Roses of Kilravock took control of the Barony of Muirton. Hugh Rose, the 15th of Kilravock, and his wife Beatrix Cuthbert, received an official royal document in 1712 from Queen Anne.
The Rose family has a long history in Scotland. They have had their main home at Castle Kilravock since 1460. Hugh Rose (1663-1732) was a very busy man. Besides being Baron of Kilravock and Muirton, he was also a sheriff and a Member of Parliament.
Hugh Rose was followed by his son, Hugh Rose, the 16th of Kilravock, in 1732. The Roses kept a house in Findhorn during this time. Just before the Battle of Culloden, this Hugh Rose hosted both Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland at his castle. He hosted them two days apart, perhaps trying to stay neutral in the conflict. The Barony of Muirton continued through several more Hugh Roses.
The Munro Fergusons
In 1817, Hugh Andrew Johnstone Munro became the Baron of Muirton. He was famous for collecting art. When he died, his lands and titles went to his cousin, Robert Munro Ferguson.
Robert's son, Ronald Crauford Munro Ferguson, received a new official document for the Barony of Muirton in 1870 from Queen Victoria.
Ronald Munro Ferguson served in the Army in India. He then became a Member of Parliament. Before World War I, he became the Governor General of Australia. When he returned, he was given the title of Viscount Novar. He also became the Secretary of State for Scotland. When he died in 1934, most of the land, including Muirton, became RAF Kinloss. The title of Viscount Novar ended, and the title of Baron of Muirton became "dormant," meaning it was not actively held.
Current Baron of Muirton
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The current holder of the title is Dr. Richard Bruce Culbert of Muirton. He is the 32nd Baron of Muirton. He has held the title since 2019. He is connected to many of the past families who held the barony. These include the Bruces, the Cuthberts, and the Roses of Kilravock. He is also related to the Robertsons and Abbot Robert Reid.
He is married to Lady Kristi Dawn Culbert, who is the Baroness of Muirton. Their children are:
- Miss Cailin Michelle Culbert of Muirton
- Master Jacob William Culbert, Baron (younger) of Muirton
Muirton in Literature
The open lands near the barony are said to be where the famous scene from Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" takes place. This is where Macbeth and Banquo meet the "weird sisters."
It is also believed that the body of King Dub (Duff) was hidden under a bridge over the Findhorn River after he was murdered. After it was found, his body was taken to Iona for burial. Some people think that Sueno's Stone, which is nearby, was put up to show his victory in battle and then his murder.
