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Invergordon
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Invergordon
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Location Information
Name Invergordon
Owner vanished
NGR NH 6984 6965
Lon. & Lat. 57.696832,-4.184031
Council Highland
Parish Rosskeen
Nearby Castles Ardoch
Year built 13th c.
Overview map
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The earliest mention of Inverbreakie occurs in the thirteenth century when the Castle, about a mile inland from the Firth, was occupied by a Fleming, placed there, it is said, by William the Lion. From a very early period there were a few thatched houses near the spot where the harbour now is. The estate was purchased by Sir William Gordon about the beginning of the eighteenth century. Born in Caithness, Sir William represented Sutherland in five Parliaments (1708-1727) and Cromartyshire, as it was then called, in 1741-42.

The Castle, originally a stone tower, was enlarged or rebuilt by him, and plans were laid for the building of a new town near the Ness. His son, Sir John, was M.P. for Cromartyshire from 1742-1747, and again from 1754-1761. He became Secretary of the Principality of Scotland and may be regarded as the real founder of Invergordon.

The estate then passed to Lord MacLeod, who was a Count of Sweden, who in turn disposed of the property to the MacLeods of Cadboll. With their arrival, the development of Invergordon quickened. A harbour was built and very soon the village became the principal distributing port in the north.

The Castle was largely destroyed by fire early in the eighteenth century and it was replaced in 1872 by a large mansion house which was itself demolished in 1928, after the break-up of the Cadboll estates.

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