Clan Fletcher of Dunans
The word fletcher means a "maker of arrows", and the medieval
fletchers followed, and settled alongside, the clan whose needs they served. The Fletchers
of Glenlyon served under the MacGregors. A family of Fletchers moved to Dunans from
Achallader at the head of Glenorchy, where they were replaced by Campbells. Archibald
Fletcher (1746-1828), born in Glenlyon, was the eldest son of a younger brother of
Archibald Fletcher of Bennice and Dunans. A lawyer and reformer, he was also an
abolitionist, and favoured the cause of American independence.
Clan Fletcher of Saltoun
Saltoun is in East Lothian, the
estate being bought by the Fletchers of Innerpeffer, Angus, in 1643. Andrew Fletcher
(d.1650) was made Lord Innerpeffer in 1623. His son, Sir Robert Fletcher of Saltoun and
Innerpeffer (d.1665), married Catherine Bruce, daughter of Sir Henry Bruce of Clackmannan,
who claimed ancestry from the grandfather of King Robert the Bruce. Their celebrated
politician and political philosopher who strongly opposed the Act of Union of the Scottish
and English parliaments in 1707.
The Lady of Marr kindly provided this information
The Dunans Castle only
dates from 19th century because that is when it was elevated to castle status but there
has been a settlement at Dunans since 1590. The Fletchers arrived in 1764 bringing a
door which gives the story of the Fletchers carrying the castle door from Auchlleder
Castle from whence they were asked to leave (they were part of the MacGregors).
This picture is set into the wall of Dunans Castle. The
last Fletcher in residence - Colonel Fletcher died just two years ago. Dunans
Castle also has its own chapel and a piece of intrinsically valuable linen gifted by the
church to the Fletchers as a token since they funded much of Glasgow Cathedral which in
turn nearly bankrupted the family. The Mould of the original Flether Bow which is
cast on top of the castle was recently discovered in the attic. It is signed by the
moulder and dated 1864.
Dunans Castle is a historical listed castle acknowledged as
virtually the only significant example of Franco-Scots Baronial architecture in the West
of Scotland (Scots Baronial - Mansion and Castle Restoration in the West of Scotland by
historian Michael Davis).
The present castle dating from around the early 19th century is built on a much earlier
15th century structure and is thoroughly impressive and breathtaking in impact. It
is a building designed to be seen along a single, controlled approach as one crosses the
only access to the castle - an ' A' listed bridge spanning a ravine along which the
2nd largest salmon river cascades, tumbles and falls - the castle suddenly appears as a
distant but stunning vision which dominates the view as one curves up to its terraced
setting and across its forecourt.
Its architect is unknown and its detailing suitably bold, relying extremely effective
massing culminating in a tall tower with an open " round" clinging lamprey like
to its upper works. Although it is clearly High Victorian in tone it is not quite
from the Bryce stable and has certain single-mindedness about its visual impact, which
marks it out as a particularly powerful design. There is nothing of the fanciful
" toy castle " about this composition despite a lavish equipage of pantomime
gunloops.
Discover Dunans Castle: A Tale of Preservation in the Scottish Highlands
with Charles Dixon-Spain
Charles was invited to give a talk by the Forbes House Museum in the US
about the adventure of restoring Dunans Castle and Bridge in Argyll. To an
engaged audience of FHM members, Charles outlines the history of the
B-Listed Castle and A-listed Bridge, Thomas Telford's role, and the Fletcher
Clan's multigenerational vision. He continues with more recent history, the
destruction by fire of the castle, how he and his wife Sadie found the
ruined building and what they have done since, including the discovery of
ghosts, creation of woodland and how the tallest tree in the UK led to
Scottish Laird becoming a worldwide phenomenon. This video is the primer on
all things Dunans that Lairds and Ladies the world over have been waiting
for!!
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