Contullich Castle facts for kids

Contullich Castle was an old castle in Scotland, located a few miles north-west of the town of Alness. It was found on the eastern side of the area known as Ross-shire.

This castle has a long history, believed to have existed since at least the 11th century. Over hundreds of years, it was home to important families and saw many changes.

History of Contullich Castle

Contullich Castle was an important place for many centuries. It was owned by different powerful families in Scotland.

Early Beginnings

The first records of Contullich Castle go back a very long time, to the 11th century. This means it was standing over 900 years ago!

In 1379, a powerful lady named Euphemia I, Countess of Ross made an important decision. She officially gave the lands of Contullich, including the fort, to her cousin. His name was Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis. This shows how important family connections were in owning land and castles back then.

Black Andrew and His Seven Castles

In the early 1500s, a man named Andrew Munro became very well-known. He was the third leader of the Milntown branch of the Munro family. Andrew received many official documents, called charters, that gave him ownership of several lands. These included Contullich and Kildermorie, both near Alness.

Andrew Munro was so famous that people called him Black Andrew of the Seven Castles. This was because he owned a castle on each of his seven estates! Contullich Castle was one of these important strongholds, along with Milntown Castle.

Passing Through Generations

Later in the 1500s, the ownership of Contullich changed again. The lands passed to Hector Munro. He was known as the first of Contullich and Fyrish. Hector was a younger son of Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis. He was also the younger brother of Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis, who was a very important clan chief.

A General's Home

During the 1600s, Contullich Castle became the home of a famous military leader. This was General Robert Monro from the Munro family of Obsdale. General Monro was a brave soldier who fought in several major wars. These included the Thirty Years' War, the Bishop's Wars, and the Irish Confederate Wars.

In 1620, General Robert Monro decided to improve Contullich. He built "a good house" there. This suggests he made the castle more comfortable or added new buildings. However, by the end of the 1700s, the small castle was no longer used as a fort. It was replaced by a farmhouse, showing how times had changed.