Ardlarich House (Ardlarach)

Location: This house is situated on the west shore of the Island of Luing, on Black Mill Bay, and can be reached by the road that runs west from Kilchattan. It is privately owned.

Sketch by Walter M. Macdougall

Origin:

The MacIvers of Ardlarach (who later became Campbells of Asknish) claim to have had possession of the lands of Ardlarach for 500 years as tenants and proprietors from the 1300s. The farm of Ardlarach was once the model farm of a wealthy Campbell, the Marquis of Breadalbane. Ardlarach House was built in 1787 by Patrick MacDougall of Ardlarach. The MacDougalls of Ardlarach were associated with the Island of Luing. The family seems to have descended from Duncan, the third son of Duncan MacDougall d. 1617, the 16th Chief of the Clan MacDougall.  

Description: This is a typical 18th C. tacksman 2 storey house with a slated gable roof and harled exterior walls. It is a good example of early improvements in farm houses built in the 18th and 19th C. The design includes a central staircase, two stories, and a slate roof.

Colin “Coll” McDougal, son of Patrick MacDougal, grew up at Ardlarach House.  In 1809 “Coll”, Lieutenant McDougal was the quartermaster of the 1st Battalion of Detachments fighting in Spain against Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army in the Peninsular War. On 27 July the French captured the hill, Cerro de Medellin, which anchored the left of the British line.  Coll’s battalion led the night time charge to the crest of the hill where they engaged in fierce combat with bayonets and rifle butts. “Coll” was killed in the darkness.

According to the McDougal family history “The Slate Islands”, Coll’s mother was alone in her room at Ardlarach House, when she:

 “. . . heard the door of her apartment open and close; turning round

and seeing nothing, she called her maid, and being satisfied that no one

had entered the room, she exclaimed: ‘I am sorely afraid, Margaret, that

something has happened to poor Coll.  Coll is no longer alive.” 

References:

1 – Technical information has been provided by the Canmore Database site of Historic Environment Scotland and their Ardlarich site may be visited at: 

2 – Journeying in MacDougall Country by Walter M. Macdougall, Past President of the Clan MacDougall Society of North America on pages 166, 167, 204, 214 contains descriptions and notes on this site. This excellent book is available from Lulu.com with profits going to the Dunollie Preservation Fund from its book sales at http://www.lulu.com/shop/walter-macdougall/journeying-in-macdougall-country/paperback/product-2242050.html

3 – See also the Historic Environment Scotland web page Ardlarach House at: http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB12197

4 – Not One in Ten Thousand Know Your Name: the Officers of the British 1st Battalion of Detachments in 1809 — Lieutenant Colin McDougal 91st Foot  https://www.napoleon-series.org/research/biographies/GreatBritain/Detachments/c_McDougal.html#_ftnref1