By the end of the 18th century Inverness, the largest town of the
Highlands, was acknowledged as its capital with its theatre, Assembly Rooms and
polite society. Its winter season dazzled the eyes of the townsfolk - balls,
concerts and plays all diverted the local gentry and wealthy merchants who made
the town their base for the dark winter months.
As the capital of the highlands, Inverness increasingly provided metropolitan
sophistication and diversions as the town attracted wealthy families from all
over the Highlands to settle. A ring of mansions and fine houses sprang up
around the town where a civilized living style could be enjoyed distant from the
noise and bustle of the town yet close enough to enjoy its facilities. The
finest of the country houses in the neighbourhood of Inverness still survives,
Culloden House, an exquisite Georgian mansion set in open parkland.
But the existing house, already over 200 years old, is not the
first house to stand on this site. Timothy Pont's manuscript and map of the area
surrounding Inverness, dating from 1595-1596, show Culloden as a fortified tower
house, built in the traditional Scottish style.
Find out about the first incarnation of
Culloden House.
Find out about the Forbes family.
Find out about the present day Culloden
House
Find out about the Battle of Culloden,
the last battle pitched on British Soil.
