The Innes Clan Society was privileged to conduct its 35th AGM and Tour of Innes Lands in July 2019. Here are some images from that experience.
Arriving in Elgin, Moray, Scotland, by train, we were greeted by the English and Gaelic names of the town. Elgin is the land of origin of the Innes family dating to the grant in 1160 of land to Berowald of Flanders by King Malcolm IV of Scotland.
Innes lands were between the Rivers Spey and Lossie. As is appropriate in whisky country, Elgin, Moray has its own namesake distillery.
Duffus Castle was a classic Norman motte and bailey structure founded by another Flemish settler of the generation before Berowald (though the son of the founder did witness the charter for Berowald). The original structure was burned in 1297 during the Wars of Independence and the stone structure that followed is the source of the ruins we see today.
Brodie Castle was the home of a family descended from loyal Celtic tribes in Moray that were rewarded by Malcolm IV in 1160 with land grants. In 1635 Alexander Brodie married Elizabeth Innes, daughter of Sir Robert Innes, 20th Laird of Innes. Plasterwork in the blue sitting room carries their initials.
Pluscarden Abbey, still serving that purpose today, was founded in 1230. In 1454, the priories of Urquhart (near Innes) and Pluscarden were combined and the poorly defined boundary between the combined lands and Innes served as a source of conflict. The last Prior of Pluscarden before a period of dormancy was Alexander Dunbar, the combatant with the Innes family at the Elgin Cathedral during “Bloody Vespers”.
Innes House has its main structure dating from the 1640’s and with evidence suggesting the central tower may have dated to the 15th century. Certainly, the site was the Laird’s seat in 1490 when visited by Scottish King James IV. The current owner, Edward Tennant, hosted the Innes Clan Society members for a gala banquet on the property.
Upon arrival at Innes House, we were piped in by Dufftown and District Pipe Band Pipe Major, Kim Paterson.
The Innes lands granted by Malcolm IV stretched along the Moray Firth from the River Spey west to the Lossie River. The area is now famous for Speyside Scotch whisky. Keeping with that tradition our group enjoyed guided tours of the Glenfiddich Distillery.
The next photo is of the River Spey at Aberlour.
The Thursday before the Dufftown Highland Games, the traditional Ceilidh features a raffle to benefit the Pipe Band. Music, singing, and dancing allowed Society members to enjoy festivities with the local community.
Spynie Palace, really a fortress castle, was the stronghold of the Bishops of Moray. Ruins now are of the 14th century building. This palace was occupied by Bishop John Innes (1407-1414). Over the years, Bishops entertained royalty including Kings David II, Robert II, James II & IV, and Mary Queen of Scots.
The Elgin Museum is supported annually by the Innes Clan Society. We were treated to an introduction to the museum, a display of Innes connections, and lunch.
Our Innes Clan Society members gathered for a group photo at the Elgin Museum. An article about the visit appeared in The Press and Journal newspaper the following day.
Following the museum reception, our next stop was the ruin of the Elgin Cathedral. The cathedral was consecrated in 1224 and was known as “The Lantern of the North” as one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Scotland. In 1390 it was burned by the “Wolf of Badenoch” during a dispute with the Bishop. Bishop John Innes who served from 1407-1414 was instrumental in its restoration. William Innes, 15th Laird, attacked the Dunbar family in the cathedral in 1555, an event known as “Bloody Vespers”. After the Reformation came to Scotland in 1560, the cathedral gradually fell into ruin.
Bishop John Innes is remembered at the Cathedral in several fragments of ruins.
The beauty of Scotland is seen just outside the Cathedral walls.
The next stop on our tour was the Dufftown Highland Games. We were invited to set up tent directly next to the Dufftown & District Pipe Band who wear the Innes Tartan.
The next photo shows some of the Innes Clan Society members with the Dufftown & District Pipe Band before we marched behind them onto the games field.
Innes Clan Society President, Edwin Shoaf, posed for a photo with the Chieftan of the games, Alex Grant.
On our last day of the tour we were taken to see Coxton Tower. This fortified tower was probably erected in the 15th or early 16th centuries. Alexander Innes acquired the Coxton estates in 1571. The Inneses of Coxton were devout Jacobites and involved in the uprisings of 1715 and 1745. The estate was sold to the Earl of Fife in 1767. The tower is still intact in private ownership.
Lunch preceded our 35th Annual General Meeting in the Cullen Bay Hotel.
Visiting sites important to Innes ended with our tour of Cullen Auld Kirk. In 1327 Robert the Bruce established a chaplaincy there to pray for the soul of his wife, Elizabeth. She died in Cullen in a horsing accident and her internal organs were buried in the church. Sir Alexander, 9th Laird of Innes is memorialized in Cullen Auld Kirk with a stone slab.
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