Lemlair House facts for kids
Lemlair House is a large, old house located in a beautiful part of Scotland. It sits in the parish of Kiltearn, within Ross-shire, which is part of the Highland council area in the Scottish Highlands. This historic mansion has a long and interesting story, connected to powerful Scottish clans.
A Look Back in Time
The story of Lemlair House goes back many centuries. An old document from the 1600s, written by the Clan Mackenzie, says that the Mackenzies once burned the lands of Lemlair. This happened after a battle in 1597 called the Battle of Logiebride.
In 1643, the lands of Lemlair became a special area called a "barony." This meant it was given directly by the King to Colonel John Munro of Lemlair. He was a strong supporter of the National Covenant, a group that disagreed with King Charles I of England's ideas about the church.
Later, in 1738, the lands went back to the main leader of the Clan Munro. For a while, the Clan Mackenzie owned it, connecting it to their nearby property, Mountgerald. But eventually, another member of the Munro family bought it back.
The name "Lemlair" probably comes from an old Scottish Gaelic phrase. It means "a bare place suitable for grazing horses."
Rebuilding Lemlair
In 1859, a man known as "Red John" Munro bought Lemlair from Sir Charles Munro of Foulis. It was Red John's grandson, also named John, who rebuilt the house into the mansion we see today. This happened in 1876. The new house included special features inside, like the famous Munro eagle symbol.
John Munro moved into the rebuilt house in 1879. Since then, only three different owners have lived in Lemlair House.
Lemlair Today
Today, Lemlair House is set in about 6 acres (24,000 square meters) of grounds. The building has many interesting features. You can find a special tiled fireplace designed by Rennie Mackintosh, a snooker room for games, and a veranda with a tiled floor that looks out over the firth (a narrow inlet of the sea).
The house also has a tennis court, eight bedrooms, and beautiful stained-glass windows. You can still see symbols of the Munro clan, like the famous eagle emblem on a fireplace. The house has recently been carefully updated and restored.
The area around Lemlair is known for great outdoor activities. These include fishing, shooting, stalking (a type of hunting), and lovely walks in the countryside.
