Lochinvar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lochinvar |
|
|---|---|
the north-west shore of Lochinvar
|
|
 Lochinvar
Location in Dumfries and Galloway
|
|
| Location | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Coordinates | 55°08′34″N 4°06′21″W / 55.14278°N 4.10583°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Lochinvar Burn into Water of Ken |
| Surface area | 39.3 ha (97 acres) |
| Shore length1 | 3.8 km (2.4 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 226 m (741 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lochinvar (also called Lan Var) is a beautiful loch (which means lake) in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It's found in the Galloway Hills, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) northeast of St. John's Town of Dalry.
Long ago, there was an island in the loch. On this island stood Lochinvar Castle, which was the home of the important Gordon family. In the 1900s, a dam was built to make the loch bigger. This turned it into a reservoir and made the water level rise. Sadly, the island and the castle ruins were covered by the water. Today, Lochinvar is used for trout fishing.
The name Lochinvar comes from the Scots Gaelic words Loch a' bharra. This means "Loch on the hilltop." The name is pronounced with the stress on the last part, "var."
The Gordon Family of Lochinvar
The Gordon family first came to Lochinvar in 1297. They built a castle there, but we don't know exactly when the ruins on the old island were built.
Important Gordons
John Gordon of Lochinvar was a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots. This means he was on her side during her time as queen.
His son, Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar (born around 1565, died 1628), was very interested in starting new settlements in North America. He received special permission in 1621 to create a place called the "barony of Galloway" in Nova Scotia. In 1625, he even wrote a book to encourage people to join these new settlements. Sir Robert was given the title of baronet in 1626. He was an important person in Scotland at the time.
Sir Robert's oldest son, Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar, became the 2nd baronet. He supported King Charles I and was a strong Protestant. In 1633, King Charles gave him the title of Viscount of Kenmure.
Young Lochinvar in Poetry
"Young Lochinvar" is a famous character in a long poem called Marmion. This poem was written by Sir Walter Scott in 1808. The story is about a brave knight named Young Lochinvar. Even though the poem is linked to a real person, Sir William Gordon of Lochinvar from the 1400s, the exciting events in the poem are not based on actual history.
