Test driving our blog!

So here’s our introductory blog, more of a bit of a test drive really and a bit of history (600 years condensed into a couple of lines).  We are Arran Island Cottages, and are part of the Sannox Estate – although it’s not quite that simple.

Views of Arran

The Sannox Estate, owned by Charles Fforde was originally encompassed within Arran Estates, owned by Lady Jean Fforde, but parts of this had to be sold to cover death duties and other taxes and estate management costs over the years.  Different areas of Arran Estates were sold, passed onto family or put into trust. So now the main landholders on Arran include not only Arran Estates but the Sannox Estate, Dougarie Estate, Forestry commission and NTS.

Charles Fforde

There are close family ties between Arran Estates, the Sannox Estate and Arran Island Cottages.

The family are traced back to the Hamiltons when the majority of Arran was acquired between 1455 – 1503. Feuding was common, and the Hamiltons feuded with the Stewarts, who burnt Brodick Castle down in 1526! Disputes ranged for another 100 years, and at one time the Hamiltons lost control of Brodick Castle and Arran for about 20 years. However, a marriage and payment of ‘fines’, found the situation resolved. The land around Lochranza, Machrie and Catacol came under the Hamiltons in the 1700’s and a degree of stability fell around the island.

Brodick Castle

Tourism, if it could be called that, was boosted by sailings of the ‘Helensburgh’ steamboat, which sailed from Greenock via Rothsay and returned via Millport.  But one of the most harrowing parts of Arran history is not about those who came but those who went.  The clearances in the around 1829 saw many islanders leaving from Lamlash port, not always willingly to emigrate to Canada. The journey took 2 months and there are still close ties to Canada now.

Other snippets include the first police officer to Arran who arrived in 1863, well before the first recorded murder in 1889.

Rugged coastline

Technology arrived by way of a telephone line between Brodick Castle and Dougarie Lodge in 1913.

In 1933 electricity arrived for the masses, first being installed in Brodick.

Views from the Castles - a frequently visited spot for mountain rescue

1953 saw the first car ferry and the increase in visitors saw the formation of the Arran Mountain Rescue Team in 1964.  The first team leader was the Arran Estate head forester – Alastair Douglas.

Photographs courtesy of Arran in Focus.