Lady of Lawers facts for kids

The Lady of Lawers was a mysterious Scottish woman who lived in the late 1600s. Some people believe she could see into the future, like a fortune-teller. However, we don't have much proof that she really existed, so her story is a bit of a legend.

Her real name was Mary Campbell. She was the daughter of Sir James Campbell, who was a important person in the Lawers area. Mary lived on a farm near Loch Tay in a place called Perthshire. She married John Stewart from the Appin family. People always called her "Baintighearn Labhuir," which means "Lady of Lawers."

Today, Lawers is a small village near Killin and Kenmore. But the old village of Lawers was right by Loch Tay. It was an important spot because it was where a ferry crossed the loch. You can still see the ruins of the old village and its church today.

The First Prophecy: The Church Roof

The Lady of Lawers made her first famous prediction when the old church of Lawers was being built. She said, "The ridging stones shall never be placed on the roof of the church."

Everyone thought this was funny. The special carved stones for the roof had just arrived by boat from Kenmore. But that night, a huge storm hit. The storm was so strong that it washed the stones into the deep waters of the loch. They were never found. After this, people started to respect the Lady of Lawers, and even feared her a little.

The Ash Tree and Its Predictions

Near the new church, an ash tree was planted. The Lady of Lawers was later buried beside this tree. She made another prediction about it: "The tree will grow, and when it reaches the height of the gable the church will split asunder."

The church roof did collapse in 1833. People said this happened when the tree reached the same height as the church's gable. Others connected this prophecy to a big event in 1843. This was when many people left the Church of Scotland and formed a new church.

There were two more predictions about the ash tree. The Lady said, "When the tree reaches the ridge of the church the house of Balloch will be without an heir." This came true in 1862. The Marquis of Breadalbane, who owned the house, died without anyone to inherit his title.

The Ash Tree's Warning

The Lady of Lawers also warned that anyone who hurt the ash tree would face bad luck. She said, "Evil will come to him who harms the ash tree." In the 1870s, a local farmer named John Campbell cut down the tree. He had been warned about the prophecy, but he didn't listen.

Later, his own bull attacked and killed him. His helper went crazy, and the horse pulling his farm cart suddenly died. Many people believed these events were the result of the Lady's curse.

Prophecies About Lochtayside

The Lady of Lawers made many predictions about the future of the area around Loch Tay. She once said, "There will be a mill on every stream and a plough on every field." About a hundred years later, growing flax became very important in the area. There were indeed flax mills on almost every stream flowing into Loch Tay.

Her other predictions were not as hopeful, but they also came true. She said, "The land will first be sifted and then riddled of its people." She also predicted, "The jaw of the sheep will drive the plough from the ground." And, "The homes on the Lochtayside will be so far apart that a cock will not hear its neighbour crow."

These predictions came true during a time called The Clearances. During this period, many people were forced to leave their homes. The population dropped from about 3,500 to only about 500. The land was no longer farmed but used for large flocks of sheep.

Predictions for the Breadalbane Family

The Lady of Lawers also made several predictions about the Breadalbane family. She didn't like them much, so her prophecies were not very kind. Her final prediction about them was, "The last laird will pass over Glenogle with a grey pony leaving nothing behind."

After World War II, the Countess of Breadalbane was the last of her family. She sold her home, Kinnell House, in 1948. She then crossed Glenogle on her way to the train station in Killin. She traveled in a cart pulled by a grey pony. This meant the last of the Breadalbane lairds had left the area, just as the Lady had predicted.

Unfulfilled Prophecies

There are still three of the Lady of Lawers' predictions that have not yet come true:

• "A strange heir will come to Balloch when the Boar's Stone at Fearnan topples over."
• "A ship driven by smoke will sink in the loch with great loss of life." (Steamships were used on Loch Tay for many years, but there is no record of a major sinking with many lives lost.)
• "The time will come when Ben Lawers will become so cold that it will chill and waste the land for seven miles."