Tullochmain

Tulloch Castle, the home of the Chiefs of the Clan Davidson, is located on the outskirts of Dingwall, Scotland, in the county of Ross and Cromarty, or Ross-shire. There is a great deal of fascinating history surrounding Dingwall, a little town which has played an important role in the history and leadership of the Highlands.

A map of Tulloch Castle taken from an Ordnance Survey Map 1904 when the Davidsons were still in residence

To see a model constructed by Ashleigh Davidson of St. Augustine FL click on the thumbnail above

Tulloch Castle was probably built by Norsemen, but all that remains of the original structure are the southwest corner and its tower. It was first called Tulloch in 1507 from the Gaelic word “Tuich”, which means “hillock”.

Four chief families have been especially active in the town of Dingwall and country life. They are the Baynes, (later intermarrying with the Davidsons), the Dingwalls, the MacKenzies, and the Munros.

Bayne (or Bain, MacBain or MacBean) are first recorded as being in Dingwall in the late 15^th century. Their origins go back to Donald Bane of Malcolm Canmore’s reign, and James Bayne, Bishop of St. Andrews, crowned King David II at Scone.

The first Bayne of Tulloch was Duncan, who received a charter from King James V in 1541 giving him the lands of Tuich or Oulch (later Tulloch). In 1553 he acquired from Clan Munro the lands of Davochcrate (now Dochcarty) which adjoined Tulloch Hill lands. A road was built between the two castles (Dingwall and Tulloch) but the Dingwall Castle is gone and only Tulloch survives. Another report, giving the Baynes an earlier claim, states that the Baynes lived in Tulloch Castle for two hundred and fifty years, from 1513 to 1752.

The old Tulloch Grounds extended to the end of the trees at the base of the hill

Kenneth, the eighth Bayne of Tulloch, sold the estate to his cousin, Henry Davidson, on the 13^th of January, 1762. Henry was the Chief of the Clan Dhai from that time on.

Duncan Davidson, 4th laird of Tulloch, was born in 1800 and became Member of Parliament for Cromarty in 1826. He was one of the few lairds of the period to always dress in Highland garb and was a great favorite of Queen Victoria's whom he used to drive personally on her visits north. In his capacity as Lord Lieutenant of Ross he was her representative in the area. He was known locally as "The Stag", having had five wives who bore his eighteen children and he had at least thirty illegitimate children around the district. One of his wives was the youngest sister of his daughter in law. One of his daughters was to become the famous Green Lady of Tulloch. He is also remembered for being the subject of one of the famous predictions of the Brahan Seer - "The day will come when there will be a Laird of Tulloch who will kill five wives in succession, but the fifth will kill him." Interestingly, Duncan died of pneumonia in Edinburgh after attending the famous Wet Review of volunteers by Queen Victoria of 1881, and was survived by his fifth wife. There is also an interesting story about Duncan Davidson and one of the most famous pipers in Scotland John Ban.

The last of the direct line of Davidson at Tulloch was Duncan Davidson who died in 1917. His daughter inherited Tulloch Castle and her son, Colonel Angus Vickers, of Vickers Aircraft, was the last owner of Tulloch lands before they were given to the Highland Regional Council just a few years ago. Since then the Castle served intermittently as a dormitory for Dingwall Academy before converting to its present use as a hotel.

In 1920 the castle, which was falling badly into disrepair, was completely renovated by Mr. and Mrs. Vickers. The roof-line was changed and it was completely modernized. In her later years, Colonel Vickers’ mother did not live at the castle but preferred her smaller apartment at the adjoining farm complex.

Three of the Davidsons of Tulloch served as Provost of the town of Dingwall. They were Henry Davidson in 1779, Duncan Davidson in 1784 and Duncan Davidson in 1840.

Even the dinning room has a stain glass window with a Davidson Clan crest in it

Ken and Margaret MacAulay with their family Emma and Kevin purchased Tulloch Castle in August 1996, their mission statement being – To build up Tulloch Castle Hotel into an efficient and profitable business, characterizing the best of Scottish traditional hospitality and food, in a welcoming, family-run business. To preserve the history of the castle and make it accessible to local people as well as visitors.

If you ask nice you might get a chance to go up into the Keep but watch your step

In 2007 the Swallow Hotel Chain sold it to the Oxford Hotel and Inn chain with the new manager being Ms. Anne MacDonald.

To see how the present owners are taking care of "Our" castle click on the words "Tulloch Castle Hotel" and book a room for a wonderful stay.

1166 - 1185	During this period the keep was built.
1455	A sister of Farquhar Qure marries Alexander Bayn in 1455, 3rd son of John Dayn MacKay they had four sons in their family (Donald 1461, *Alexander 1462, John 1463 and David 1465.
1482	*Alexander Bayn moves to Dingwall area from Olrig, Caithness. He married in 1482 and had four sons (Duncan 1489 -1518, John 1490, William 1500, and Alexander 1503).**
1500	With the death of Farquhar Qure the Castle passed into the ward ship of the Crown.
1512	Duncan held the first Bain lands in Dingwall, Bain’s mother, who was married to Alexander Bain.
1513	Repairs were made to the Castle.
1526	James the 5th granted lands to Walter Innes.
1541	Lands of Qulch were given by James the 5th to Alexander Bayn.
1542	The Tulloch estate was granted to Duncan Bayn, he became the first Bayn Laird. Duncan married a daughter of Hector Roy MacKenzie, 1st of Gairloch, they had 5 children (*Alexander 1515, John, William, Ronald 1518, and 2 daughters).
1553	The lands of Davochcarte (Docharty) were obtained from the Munros, and added to the Tulloch estate. A crown charter was granted by Queen Mary for these lands.
1559 (4 April)	Alexander Bayn became the 2nd Laird of Tulloch. Married 1st wife Janet of Kildun and Ussie in 1558 they had 1 son Duncan (b1559). He then married his second wife, Agnes Fraser daughter of lord Lovat; they had 7 children (Ronald, Janet, John, Marjorie, Giles, Hugh, Catherine) Alexander died in 1600.
1559 - 1600	Duncan Bayn became the 3rd Laird. He married twice his first wife was Elspet, she was a daughter of Tarquil Cononach MacLeod, Isle of Lewis, they had 13 children (Alexander 1590, killed in 1611, John 1591 - 1669, Ronald 1597 (progenitor of the Dayns of Knockbain), Kenneth, Lacheline, Duncan, Rodderick, David, Donald, Anne, Janet, Elizabeth and Agnes). His second wife was the daughter of MacKenzie of Fairburn, they had 1 child, Alexander, born 1612 ("The First of Tarradale.").
1626	John Bayn was the 4th laird of Tulloch; he was three times provost of Dingwall. He married Elizabeth MacKenzie, daughter of Rodderick MacKenzie of Redcastle. They had 6 children (Duncan 1618 - 1649, Rodderick 1620, "Tutor of Tulloch", Ronald 1625, Elizabeth, Margaret). Duncan died before his father. During his lifetime he had married Katherine MacKenzie of Kilcoy and had 3 children (Donald 1640 - 1714, who became Sir Donald), John B. 1643, Henry).
1633	The Bayns obtained Kinnairdies from the Munros of Foulis.
1644	The rental of lands to John Bayn took in 906 pounds.
1665	The Castle was built on the keep. Built as a square with a large courtyard in the middle with the main entrance facing east.
1669	Donald Bayn became the 5th Laird. Donald was the eldest son of Duncan, Grandson of John Bayn the 4th. He was married to Annabelle MacKenzie of Applecross and they had 14 children (John 1673, Duncan 1674, Alexander 1676, *Kenneth 1677 - 1719, Annabelle 1678, Rory 1679, Ronald 1680, Katherine 1681, Elizabeth 1683, Donald 1684, James 1685, Alexander 1686, William 1688 and Janet 1692).
1675	Additions were made to the Castle. The oldest part is said to have been built by William the Lion.
1680	Donald Bayn was knighted Sir and in 1681 and 1685 he was a representative in the Scottish Parliament.
1700	Elizabeth (or Jean) Bayn married Alexander Davidson.
1709	Kenneth Bayn, son of Sir Donald Dayn became the 6th Laird of Tulloch. He married Isobel in 1718; she was the second daughter of Sir Kenneth MacKenzie of Scotwell. Kenneth died a year later in 1719 with no heirs.
1719	John Bayn of Inchrory, eldest son of Rodderick Bayn who was the "Tutor of Tulloch," became the 7th Laird of Tulloch. He married twice, his first wife was Anna MacKenzie, they had one son in 1686 named John, and he was ordained as a minister in 1716. Rev. John had a son, John of Corriemony who fought at Culloden and was banished to Maryland in 1747, they promptly sold the estate to his younger stepbrother. His second wife was Elizabeth Leandrish; they had one son, William Mathew, born 8 January 1696. William was banished to Maryland aboard the ship "Friendship" with 77 other prisoners. The ship departed from Liverpool on 24 May 1716. He died in 1771. He had been in the Jacobite Army under General William MacIntosh of Borlum who was defeated and captured at Preston.
1719 -1720	Kenneth Bayn, 1684 - 1747, bought the estate from his brother John, and became the 8th Laird of Tulloch. He married Anna Bayn (cousin and daughter of Ronald Bayn, 3rd Laird of Knockbane) who died 1733; they had 2 children (*Kenneth 1719 and William 1720).
1736	Drynie was added to the estate.
1747	The 9th Laird of Tulloch was Kenneth Bayn, son of the 8th Laird. He added extensions to the castle on the west side.
1762	Due to financial difficulties the estate was bankrupt, and was sold to a cousin Henry Davidson, son of William Davidson who was married to Jean Bayn in 1719. The estate was sold on 3 January for 10,500 pounds - more than twice the market value. He thus became the 1st Davidson of Tulloch. Henry Davidson was the eldest son of Elizabeth Bayne and Alexander Davidson.
1762	Additions were made to the Castle.
1781	Duncan Davidson became the 2nd Davidson Laird of Tulloch. The 3rd Laird was Henry Davidson. Henry's brother Duncan Davidson, MP for Cromartieshire, was the 4th laird. He died in 1800. Henry Davidson became the next Laird and then died in September 1881 in Edinburgh.
1838	On 26 February, a fire destroyed the front part of an extensive range of buildings at the Castle.
1839	Duncan Davidson succeeded as heir and inherited 60,000 pounds, which he used to purchase land enabling him to ride from the Atlantic to the North Sea on his own estate. He had an income of 7,000 pounds a year from rental of his land. Duncan Davidson married the Honorable Elizabeth Dianna MacDonald on 18 June 1825.
1845	The Castle was destroyed by fire - started by a candle in one of the bedrooms 14 July.
1874	The 3^rd floor of the castle and the front of the keep were destroyed by fire.
1881	The next Laird was also a Duncan Davidson, he had no heir. Died in 1917, married Mary Gwendaline daughter of Mr. Dalziel Mackenzie of Farr.
1891	Restoration and improvements by A. Maitland & Sons.
1900	By this date Davidson could ride form coast to coast without leaving his own land.
1909	At a meeting at the Metropole Hotel in London, it was proposed, seconded and carried, that Davidson of Tulloch be recognized as Chief of the Clan. In September a wedding of Portuguese royalty was held at the castle.
1920-1923	Renovations were carried out at the castle by the architect Sir Robert Lorrimer. It was at this time a new third floor was added.
1940	The castle became a hospital after the evacuation of Dunkirk.
1945	On the death of the Laird’s widow the estate passed to Col. Angus Vickers of Tulloch, whose wife was related to the Davidson’s of Tulloch.
1947	Leased to the Education Authority, the castle opened in February as a girl’s hostel.
1957-1958	The Education Authority bought the castle.
1976	The castle was vacated by its young students.
1996	The castle was sold to the MacAulays, and was used as a Hotel and Conference Center.
2003	MacAulays sold the castle to the Swallow Hotel Chain
2007	Swallow Hotel Chain sold the castle to the Oxford Hotel and Inn Chain