The Killing of the chief of Clan MacKintosh

In the mid 17th century, John MacAndrew joined forces with the Rose of Kilravoch who was pursuing Mackintoshes who had plundered Rose‘s cattle. In the ensuing battle in Strathdearn, Macandrew killed the Chief of the reivers with an arrow. Macandrew knew that the reivers would want their revenge and follow him home. Later, when John saw strangers in the woods near Dalnahaitnach he guessed they had come to avenge their Chief’s death.

The strangers, thinking John was just an ignorant young lad, offered him a bribe to take them to Ian Beag Macandra’s house (his own). John took the bribe. When they reached his house, John’s wife was in and with great presence of mind, carried on the deception and told the strangers that her husband was out . She gave the strangers food and drink and sent John out to look for the master.

John climbed to the top of a tree near the door of his house. In the tree he kept a bow and a supply of arrows. He cried out that the master IAIN BEAG MACANDRA IAIN BEAG MACANDRA was coming. The strangers hurried out one by one and as they did, John shot each one down with an arrow.

A party of the Lochaber men laid watch, one winter’s night, unobserved and unexpected around John’s house, and when they thought they had bird in the cage, abruptly and unceremoniously walked in. One of the Lochaber men locked the door after him and hid the key under a turf bench, in the side of the house.

It was John’s wife, who saved her husband at this critical moment by the following stratagem.  She went to the pantry at the far end of the house, and took a small number of kebbocks of cheese in her arms, and pretended to slip over as she  came in through the entry door. The cheeses rolled all over the floor, and the Lochaber men flew after the spoil. The valiant John, who was all the time a spectator of what was going on, now rose from his seat, swept the light off the hearth, took the key from it’s hiding place, went out and locked the outer door after him. On doing this he placed the hide of a newly killed cow at the door, with the flesh side turned up. The Lochaber men guessing their mistake, forced open the door, and as they came out slipped on the newly flayed hide. John was now ready with his bow and arrows, as each man fell on the hide, the arrow from John’s bow prevented the possibility of his rising to tell the tale.

John managed to outwit the reivers for the rest of his life; his life was an ongoing tale of many hair-breath escapes, honest and brave little John MacAndrew ultimately died quiertly in his bed.

A Monument to Iain Beag Macandra was erected in memory of his great skill and cunning with the bow. It stands on the North side of the river Dulnain at Dalnahaitnach

MacAndrews remains lie in a churchyard of Duthil, it is believed a stone marks his grave. There is supposedly no doubt about his buriel place. He lies amoungst his kith and kin where there is no chance if his foes now disturbing him.

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The Dining Room at Candacraig

With a price tag of almost £3 million pounds, Scottish comedian Billy Connolly’s Highland baronial home in Aberdeenshire has been listed on the market. The 12-bedroom property in Strathdon is set in 14 acres of grounds, and includes a walled garden and a croquet lawn. Candacraig was originally home to the Anderson family until it was sold in 1866 to Sir Charles Forbes of Newe.

Candacraig House was built in 1579, however the original is quite different from the mansion that stands today. A painting dated from 1760 shows a simple L-shaped building which was incorporated into later constructions. Most of the present house was built in 1835 by noted Aberdeen architect John Smith, who also worked on Balmoral Castle. Candacraig underwent further reconstruction in 1956, following a destructive fire.

Legend has it that the first Laird of Candacraig, Patrick Anderson, acquired the property after discovering silver under a boulder in Glen Carvie in the 1500′s. After changing hands several times after 1866, the house was purchased by Gordon and Anita Roddick, founders of the Bodyshop. They undertook a comprehensive program of improvement before selling it to Billy Connolly and Pamela Stephenson in 1998. Candacraig attracted much media attention as Hollywood celebrities became regular guests including Ewan MacGregor and Robin Williams.

The sales brochure describes the house as “a traditional Scots baronial mansion house built of harled stone under a slate roof with pepper pot turrets and steep pitched roofs”. The brochure continues: “The house has fine reception rooms, including a magnificent timber-panelled drawing room with a highly decorative plaster ceiling and a panelled library beyond. These two rooms and the dining room are to the front of the house and are reached off a long picture gallery. To the rear of the house are a large family kitchen and an office/utility room. A passageway with historic carved timber panelling leads to a billiard room.

Real Estate agent and Clan Chief Jamie Macnab, of Savills, said: “It is absolutely gorgeous, in the most stunning position and money has been lavished on it over the years.” Last year, Connolly started renting out the property as he was spending less and less time there. For £3,950, groups of up to 11 people could hire the house for one night and have a three-course dinner cooked by the resident chef. Connolly is said to be considering splitting his time between his apartment in New York and Brighton.

There are three castles nearby; the ruin of Kildrummy, besieged in 1306 by the army of Edward I; Glenbuchat, stronghold of “Old Glenbucket”, a renowned Jacobite who led a regiment for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 rebellion; and Corgarff, a restored 16th century tower house. Corgarff has an impressive history, acting as the scene of a notorious massacre, a hideout for bandits, and a munitions store for supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. Following the rising the it was used as an outpost for soldiers sent to suppress the illegal distilling of whisky.

You can view the impressive real estate brochure by clicking here.

Quick Links to Clan Anderson Products from The Clan Shop

• Anderson Tartan Tie
• Anderson Tartan Pocket Square Handkerchief
• Anderson Tartan Scarves
• Anderson Tartan Kilts
• Anderson Clan Crest Badge
• Anderson Clan Crest Mug
• Anderson Clan Crest T-Shirts
• Anderson Clan Crest Belt Buckle
• Anderson Phone Covers
• Anderson Tartan
• Anderson Clan Crest Crystal Glasses
• Anderson Clan Crest Cufflinks
• Anderson Clan Crest Sgain Dubh
• Anderson Clan Crest Kilt Pin
• Anderson Clan Crest Plaques

Visit the Anderson Clan Shop  where we sell the largest amount of Clan Anderson products available, in the Anderson tartan and the Anderson Clan Crest >>

The post Billy Connolly’s Highland Retreat For Sale appeared first on ScotClans | Scottish Clans.

Quick Links to Clan Anderson Products from The Clan Shop

• Anderson Tartan Tie
• Anderson Tartan Pocket Square Handkerchief
• Anderson Tartan Scarves
• Anderson Tartan Kilts
• Anderson Clan Crest Badge
• Anderson Clan Crest Mug
• Anderson Clan Crest T-Shirts
• Anderson Clan Crest Belt Buckle
• Anderson Phone Covers
• Anderson Tartan
• Anderson Clan Crest Crystal Glasses
• Anderson Clan Crest Cufflinks
• Anderson Clan Crest Sgain Dubh
• Anderson Clan Crest Kilt Pin
• Anderson Clan Crest Plaques

Visit the Anderson Clan Shop  where we sell the largest amount of Clan Anderson products available, in the Anderson tartan and the Anderson Clan Crest >>

The post Clan Anderson, List of Established Families appeared first on ScotClans | Scottish Clans.