The history of Ackergill Tower
No one is exactly sure of when Ackergill Tower was built; in the mid 14th century only the ‘lands of Ackergill’ were mentioned as among the properties of Sir Reginald de Cheyne who, at that time, owned nearly half of Caithness. The style of architecture, however, leads us to believe that the Tower was built in the later 15th century, circa 1475.
Indeed, it is from this early period that the famous story of Helen Gunn dates. Known as the ‘Beauty of Braemore,’ she was abducted from her home in Braemore on her wedding night and kept prisoner in the Tower by the infamous Dugald Keith. Rather than succumb to his less than honourable advances, she leapt from the battlements. The stone on which she was believed to have fallen, and which bears her outline, can be seen nearby.
The Cheynes and the Keiths
The male line of the Cheyne family, the earliest known as the owner of Ackergill Tower, expired in 1350. The eldest daughter, Mariota, married John de Keith, second son of Sir Edward Keith. And so the lands of Ackergill passed into the hands of the Great Earl Marshall of Scotland.
The lands of Ackergill and Inverugie passed in direct descent from John and Mariota for eight generations until the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
Sir William Keith of Ackergill fell at Flodden along with the two elder sons of his chief, the Earl of Marshall. The heiress married the heir to the Earl Marshall, so the large possessions of both branches were combined. At this time the Keiths were at the zenith of their power, prestige and wealth.
These were barbarous times and it became increasingly difficult for the Earl Marshals to maintain their remote lands in the far north.
The Earls of Caithness
In view of the Keiths’ difficulties in maintaining possession of the Tower, in 1612 it was sold to George, fifth Earl of Caithness, with all the Marshall’s Caithness estates. The fifth Earl was succeeded by his great grandson George. Ackergill was neglected, partly because the Earl was suffering from severe financial embarrassment. He became indebted to Campbell of Glenorchy who forced him in lieu of payment to leave him his titles and estates.
On the death of the Earl in 1676, there was a struggle between Glenorchy and the rightful heir. Finally, the estates were retained by Glenorchy, but the title was restored. However, the militant people of Caithness made the administration of the estates so impossible for Glenorchy that in 1699 it was sold to William Dunbar, Baronet, of Hempriggs. After a break of 87 years, a descendant of Sir Reginald de Cheyne once again owned the Tower.
The Dunbars
With acquisition of Ackergill Tower in 1699, the branch of the ancient family of Dunbar became the largest landowner in Caithness. On Sir William’s death, his baronetcy passed on to his brother Robert and still exists, although now known as Northfield, while his son-in-law, husband of Elizabeth, was created Sir James Sutherland Dunbar of Hempriggs.
James Sutherland, 1st Baronet of Hempriggs, was also the second son of Lord Duffus. Thus, when his elder brother’s direct male line died out in 1827, his own descendents inherited the Duffus title. Sir Benjamin Dunbar, grandson of James Sutherland, became the 6th Baron.
Lord Duffus died in 1845 and was succeeded by his elder son Sir George Sutherland Dunbar, 4th Baronet, who never used the title of Lord Duffus. It was Sir George who carried out great improvements in the estate.
Sir George died in 1876 and was succeeded by his nephew Benjamin who had become a recluse before he inherited the title and would have nothing to do with the estate or the baronetcy. The estates were managed by his son, Garden, who took the name Duff-Dunbar on his marriage to Louisa Duff from Hatton Castle. Louisa Duff-Dunbar, widowed by the death of Garden, looked after the estate and built an interesting collection of fossils and beetles, some of which remain in the Tower to this day.
Her eldest son Sir George succeeded as 6th Baronet on his grandfather’s death in 1898. He spent little of his time at Ackergill, having joined the civil service and serving most of his life in India. He became something of a scholar on Indian history and some of his manuscripts can be found in the castle. On his death, he was succeeded by his only son, Sir George Cospatrick Sutherland Duffus-Dunbar who, as a barrister, spent most of his life in London. He died unmarried in 1966.
A distant cousin, Mrs. Maureen Blake, inherited the estate and title, following a long and debilitating family dispute. The effect of this was to render the estate exceedingly short of funds. The castle was lived in for short periods during the summer and soon fell into serious disrepair.
Recent History
The estates from 1890 to 1986 had already declined from over 100,000 acres to less than 4000. The income generated from small farms rented to tenant farmers did little to support the cost of an ageing and demanding building.
The castle was considered to be beyond salvation when in 1986 the Trustees of the estate put Ackergill Tower up for sale. It was bought by John and Arlette Banister; only the fourth owner in the Tower’s long and chequered history.
A two and-a-half year programme of restoration took place, starting in the autumn of 1987. Under the Povail Worthington Partnership from Edinburgh and Robert Galbraith, the castle was meticulously restored to its former glory. The fabric of the building was repaired and the original contents cleaned and rejuvenated. Central heating, electricity and new services were installed.
In September 1988, the castle re-opened its doors as the great house that it truly is.
In 2009, Clarenco LLP purchased Ackergill Tower from the Banisters and it continues to thrive as the flagship venue of the ‘Amazing Retreats’ portfolio.
