Clans

Have you found your Highland Roots?

Are you a LAMONT?

	Motto:	NE PARCAS NEC SPERNAS ("Neither spare nor dispose")


Are you a CAMPBELL?

	Motto:	NE OBLIVISCARIS ("Forget not")


Are you a MacLACHLAN?

	Motto:	FORTIS ET FIDUS ("Strong and Faithful")


Are you a MacEWEN?

	Motto:	REVIRESCO ("I grow strong again")

The Lamont Massacre

Castle House Museum stands on the site of a famous massacre.
During the Wars of Independence, the Lamonts supported Balliol and Edward 1 of England, and as a result lost much of their power and lands after Bruce’s victory at Bannockburn. Their Castle of Dunoon became a Royal Castle and the Keeper was a Campbell.

In the Great Rebellion of 1644 – 1646 the Campbells and Lamonts were on opposite sides. The Campbells supported the Covenant, while the Lamonts were Royalists and joined Montrose in his attack on Argyll. On their way home with their loot, they killed the inhabitants of Strachur and also murdered the people of Kilmun, although they had sought sanctuary in the Church. Campbell revenge was swift. The Lamont stronghold , Toward Castle, was besieged and the defenders tricked by the offer of a safe- conduct, which was dishonoured, following the example of the Lamonts at Kilmun.

The Chief and his family were imprisoned, the women and children were spared, but many of the Lamont men were killed on the spot. Others were brought to Dunoon, tried on the Tom-a-mhoid ( Hill of Justice ) and sentenced to death. They were hanged from a tree standing in front of the Church. It is said that the tree never bore leaf again and that when it was cut down, its roots gushed blood.