Brahan Castle

Attribution: S. Fraser (Maryburgh Primary School March 2015)

BRAHAN CASTLE

A tower house built for the MacKenzies of Kintail and Seaforth. Much enlarged and remodelled in the late 18th and 19th centuries, demolished in 1952. The fine stable range has converted to a house. The castle was demolished in 1951, the rubble unceremoniously used as foundations for the new Conon Bridge.

Brahan Castle

Attribution: Photograph donated by Mrs Rosemary Henderson, Maryburgh.

The Castle: Home of the Seaforth Highlanders

Due to the exorbitant costs of upgrading, Brahan Castle was dismantled in 1953. Built in the early 17th century, it was a stronghold of the MacKenzies.

In this picture, the Seaforth Highlanders are drilling in front of the castle during the time it served as a regiment barracks. Brahan was a grand residence, teeming with servants and the social elite of the time, and renowned for its elegant balls and shooting parties.

The Brahan Seer foretold the demolition of the castle.

Built in the early 17th century, it was a stronghold of the MacKenzies

Attribution: Photograph donated by Mrs Rosemary Henderson, Maryburgh.

The Entrance to the Castle

Postcard, bearing Edward VII stamp and franked 18 July (year unclear but must be before 1911), addressed to Miss Lundie, Estcourt, Beauly, and reads:

Dear Nan, I hope you got home entire yon night. Haven’t heard yet if we are to get Friday, most likely not. Don’t forget the fan book like a (unclear) and anything in the way of recitations. Do you remember yon recitation book we had at one of the concerts. Martha did one and “Dg” McLean yon one “Never go to France”. Can you by any stretch of memory recall the name of that book. This imposing entrance is just a wee bit up the road from the school.

Yours with love, Nan.

Ornamental Stags

Attribution: Photograph donated by Mrs Rosemary Henderson, Maryburgh.

The interior of the Castle

Below you’ll find a collection of photographs of the interior of Brahan Castle. At present we have little precise information about the interior of the castle so we’ve had to guess at the likely functions of the rooms in order to give the images more convenient headings. We would welcome contributions and information relating to these images. If anyone would like to contribute to this or any related topics please contact Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society .

Music room

Attribution: Photograph donated by Mrs Rosemary Henderson, Maryburgh.

The Golden Bed

“History of the Golden Bed of Brahan.

“Colonel Daniel Mackenzie was for some time in the service of Colin Earl of Seaforth and afterwards, going abroad, served in the wars for several years in Moscow and Flanders.

“There, having by his merit and valour run through the inferior degrees of honour, he at length attained that of a Colonel of a Regiment of Foot and married the daughter of Dean Wolfard, Count de Vredrad, Governor of Buldorbe in Flanders, a descendant of the noble and illustrious House of Nassau.”

Having a desire to see his friends and native country, Colonel Mackenzie came over to Scotland and brought to his old master Colin Earl of Seaforth a rich and sumptuous bed, commonly called the Golden Bed of Brahan because of the gold trappings, embroiderings and gildings that were upon a sea-green coloured velvet furniture belonging to it. But Earl Colin, dying before his arrival, he presented it to Earl George.

Now it is in Falkland Palace, in Fife, under the care of the National Trust of Scotland.

The Golden Bed

Attribution: Photograph donated by Mrs Rosemary Henderson, Maryburgh.

View more photographs of Brahan Castle

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images 
Maryburgh » Maryburgh History » Maryburgh Prisoner Of War Camp
All but three huts have been pulled down.
All but three huts have been pulled down.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
The site was used as a storage area for farm machinery
The site was used as a storage area for farm machinery
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
All but three huts have been pulled down.
All but three huts have been pulled down.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
All but three huts have been pulled down.
All but three huts have been pulled down.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
The Camp as it was in 1998
The Camp as it was in 1998
The camp as it was in 1998
The camp as it was in 1998
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000 Early in the year 2000 the trees surrounding the camp were taken down. This actually gives a much better impression of what the camp was like during the war. This has also cleared the area where the football pitch was located and can be seen quite clearly. Two other concrete foundations are also visible including the spot where the "glasshouse" was possibly situated. The close proximity of the factor's house to the camp is also very visible (first photo).
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000 Early in the year 2000 the trees surrounding the camp were taken down. This actually gives a much better impression of what the camp was like during the war. This has also cleared the area where the football pitch was located and can be seen quite clearly. Two other concrete foundations are also visible including the spot where the "glasshouse" was possibly situated. The close proximity of the factor's house to the camp is also very visible (first photo).
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 2000 Early in the year 2000 the trees surrounding the camp were taken down. This actually gives a much better impression of what the camp was like during the war. This has also cleared the area where the football pitch was located and can be seen quite clearly. Two other concrete foundations are also visible including the spot where the "glasshouse" was possibly situated. The close proximity of the factor's house to the camp is also very visible (first photo).
The official line dried up before it got started so I decided to go with the local history available.
The official line dried up before it got started so I decided to go with the local history available.
Celebration of 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Celebration of 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Estate workers children were given commemorative tins to mark the Queen's Coronation in 1953. This photo shows the presentation taking place at the former camp. The huts can be seen quite clearly in the background.
Original entrance roadway
Original entrance roadway
Original entrance roadway. There were two entrances. One was quite grand with a proper sentry gate and three enormous stone emblems. There were also flags flying alongside.
Hut foundations are clearly visible.
Hut foundations are clearly visible.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
Macrae's Garage, Dingwall
Macrae's Garage, Dingwall
The garage has been ideitified as Macrae's Garage at the corner of Hill Street and High Street. The site became a building used as the local (motor) taxation office and then Dingwall Post Office before this office moved to the west end of High Street in 2013. The man second from left was Finlay Forbes from Muir of Ord and the woman was Anne Macdonald (Gordon) from Strathpeffer.
One of the remaining huts with stove.
One of the remaining huts with stove.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
In 1998 the one remaining hut was still being used by the local Venture Scout Group.
In 1998 the one remaining hut was still being used by the local Venture Scout Group.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
Prisoner of War Camp, Brahan
Prisoner of War Camp, Brahan
Map showing location of the camp
Map showing location of the camp
The site of the former camp is to be found along the Maryburgh to Ullapool road approximately two miles from the village of Maryburgh and on the left hand side. It lies between the house named Tallysow and the North Lodge. It is part of the large, historically important estate of Brahan which is owned by Mr A M H Matheson.
Artist: Unknown POW, Brahan. (The painting was salvaged fom the wall of a camp building.)
Artist: Unknown POW, Brahan. (The painting was salvaged fom the wall of a camp building.)
Dingwall Thistle Football Club
Dingwall Thistle Football Club
Dingwall Thistle Football Club Back row, l-r: Johnnny Macdonald, Ackie Macpherson, Sonny Sutherland, Angus Goodall, Willie Shearer, David Hamilton, Duncan Ross, Polson Morrison, Willie Wilson. Front row, l-r: Hugh Urquhart, Jimmy Shand, ? Seigall, Davie Lawson, James Macdonald
Plan of POW Camp
Plan of POW Camp
Photocopy of a postcard sent home to Germany in 1947 by a POW at Brahan
Photocopy of a postcard sent home to Germany in 1947 by a POW at Brahan
P.O.W. Herbert / Peter Wilson / James Wilson (estate factor ) / Jimmy Wilson / P.O.W. Peter
P.O.W. Herbert / Peter Wilson / James Wilson (estate factor ) / Jimmy Wilson / P.O.W. Peter
Prisoner of War - now living locally
Prisoner of War - now living locally
Prisoners of War
Prisoners of War
Letter from daughter of a German POW
Letter from daughter of a German POW
The letter and photo below came from the daughter of a German POW who worked as the ration wagon driver at Brahan.
The ablutions.
The ablutions.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
The ablutions.
The ablutions.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
The remaining ablutions hut.
The remaining ablutions hut.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
The stone Ukranian Emblem dated 1949
The stone Ukranian Emblem dated 1949
This stone was to be seen at the site for a number of years. Another emblem was removed at some point and acquired by the lady owner of Malton Ville in Conon Bridge. When she moved to Grantown the stone emblem went too. It is not known whether that stone was returned to Brahan.
The stone Ukranian Emblem dated 1949
The stone Ukranian Emblem dated 1949
This stone was to be seen at the site for a number of years. Another emblem was removed at some point and acquired by the lady owner of Malton Ville in Conon Bridge. When she moved to Grantown the stone emblem went too. It is not known whether that stone was returned to Brahan.
The remains of the water tower.
The remains of the water tower.
THE CAMP AS IT WAS IN 1998
Beaufort Castle
Beaufort Castle
Although thjis is Beaufort castle, Beauly, Heinz Mainus was transferred from the POW camp at Brahan
Heinrich Mainus
Heinrich Mainus
Heinrich Mainus or Heinz, was transferred from Brahan POW camp to Kiltarlity whetre he remained after the war.
POW Brahan/Beauly ID card
POW Brahan/Beauly ID card
This is the ID card of Heinrich Mainus who was transferred from the Brahan camp to the cam at Kiltarlity
POW Brahan postcard
POW Brahan postcard
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