Duke of Sutherland Monument
Introduction
This evening, I am focusing on the Duke of Sutherland Monument. This edifice sits atop Ben Bhraggie (a mountain) close to the N.E. coast of Scotland, near the village of Golspie.
Information on the Duke
The Duke of Sutherland’s life spanned the period 1758-1833. Through marriage to Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, he became the largest private landowner in Europe at the time. The Duke also held the title Marquess of Stafford and was a Member of Parliament 1778-84 and 1787-98.
During the Duke’s tenure in the Scottish Highlands many thousands of his tenants, were forcibly evicted and left destitute. Hitherto, these people had eked out a subsistence existence from crofting (small scale farming).Many emigrated and others were absorbed into the factories of the Industrial Revolution. There are two contradictory views of the driver for the evictions:
- To ‘encourage’ the tenants away from low standard living conditions.
- To improve yield from the land via switching to sheep farming.
The Duke was not alone in forcing evictions in the Scottish Highlands. However, he gained a reputation as the most ruthless and unsympathetic. This episode in Scotland’s history was known as the Highland Clearances.
After the Duke’s death in 1833 a public subscription raised funds for the monument which still dominates the local skyline. The statue was sculpted by Sir Francis Chantrey and the entire 100ft tall structure completed in 1837.
Dunrobin Castle
Many tourists observe the monument when visiting Dunrobin Castle near Golspie. This castle is an impressive and popular visitor attraction.
Dunrobin Castle and gardens
- The name is actually drum rabhain which translates as ‘ridge of the long grass’.
- Inside there are 189 rooms including a library with 10,000 books.
- Outside are extensive French influenced gardens and a museum detached from the main house.
- During the main tourist season visitors can attend a very good falconry display in the gardens. This includes demonstrations by owls and hawks.
More information
For more information on Scottish castles, Scottish history and much more please refer to Visitors’ Guide to Scotland. This ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. This is also available via Kindle.