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Inveraray Castle is next to the Town of
Inveraray, 65 miles northwest of
Glasgow,
37 miles southeast of Oban.
The original Inveraray Castle was built from
the 1400s, with the Castle seen today built
from 1746 for Archibald
Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll.
The Castle is open for visits 28th March -
28th October, Thur - Mon. Postcode: PA32
8XE
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The image top is from the Bridge on the Main
A83 Road half of a mile north of Inveraray.
The next images are from the Gardens on the
south side of Inveraray Castle.
The remains of the original Castle are on
the north side of this Castle, just some
foundations.
The Entrance Hall has an impressive display
of Arms, Swords, Pikes, and Guns.
The Drawing Room is one of a few top Rooms
to visit.
The MacArthur Bedroom is said to be Haunted,
with the bed originally belonging to the
MacArthurs of Loch Awe, where a young Irish
harpist was murdered in 1644.
When someone is about to die in the Castle,
harp music is heard from this room.
The Old Kitchen is huge, also with a Ghost
of a Kitchen Maid.
There is a Cafe and Gift Shop close to the
Kitchen.
Inveraray Castle History
1100s - the Campbell's began taking control
of Argyll with their main rivals being the
MacDougall's.
The main Campbell Castle at that time was on
Innis Chonnell
Island, 20 miles by road west of where
Inveraray is today.
The Campbell's fought with Robert the Bruce
at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314,
leading to The Bruce awarding them vast areas
of Land.
Descendants of The Bruce were the Stuart's,
with Sir Duncan Campbell marrying Lady Marjorie
Stewart around 1430, with the Campbell's from
that time supporting the Monarchs in many
Battles over the following centuries.
It is claimed it was Sir Duncan Campbell
that moved the family Headquarters from Innis
Chonnell to the new Castle at Inveraray in the
1400s.
The Castle at Inveraray soon had a small
Town around it.
It is claimed the Campbell's could raise an
Army of up to 5,000 men from Inveraray and
other Towns they controlled in Argyll.
John Campbell,
2nd Duke of Argyll, led some Government forces
to help end the first Jacobite Risings in the
early 1700s.
1720 - the 2nd Duke had the architect Sir
John Vanburgh produce a sketch of the new
Inveraray Castle.
The 2nd Duke and Architect died before the
the building began, leading to the 3rd Duke of
Argyll, Archibald Campbell, having the new
Castle built from 1746 in Gothic Revival style.
The old Castle under 100 yards north, was
dismantled around that time.
1746 - John Campbell
commanded four Companies of the Campbell of
Argyll Militia for the Government at the
Battle of Culloden, where the
Jacobite's were defeated for the final
time.
1770 - John Campbell became the 5th Duke of
Argyll.
1770s - John Campbell began the building of
the new Town of Inveraray, about half of a mile
southeast of the Castle.
This seems to have been for two reasons. The
new Town was right on the banks of Loch Fyne, a
huge Sea Loch, ideal for Fishing and Trade.
The other reason would no doubt have been,
the Duke wanted to create a vast Garden around
his new grand Castle, with Trees, Bushes and
Plants imported from around the world by Early
Explorers.
1789 - the new Inveraray Castle was
completed.
1796 - the Argyll
Mausoleum was built at Kilmun Parish Church
for the Campbell's, 35 miles south of
Inveraray.
1953 - the 11th Duke of Argyll opened
Inveraray Castle to the public.
1975 - Inveraray Castle was damaged by fire,
leading to a long restoration project.
2001 - the 13th Duke of
Argyll became head of Clan Campbell, in
control of the Castle and Estates.
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