Tour Scotland Video Old Photographs Of Moffat

Tour Scotland video of old photographs of Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Moffat was a notable market in the wool trade, and this is commemorated with a statue of a ram by William Brodie in the town's marketplace. The ram was presented to the town by William Colvin, a local businessman, in 1875. From 1633 Moffat began to grow from a small village into a popular spa town. The infamous murderer and alleged grave robber William Hare may have stayed in the Black Bull Hotel during his escape to Ireland after turning King's evidence against William Burke. Robert Burns came for the waters and frequented the local bars.

The origins of the Brodie name are mysterious. Much of the early Brodie records were destroyed when Clan Gordon pillaged and burnt Brodie Castle in 1645. It is known that the Brodies were always about since records began. From this it has been presumed that the Brodies are ancient, probably of Pictish ancestry, referred to locally as the ancient Moravienses. Johne of Brode of that Ilk, the 7th chief of Clan Brodie, assisted Clan Mackenzie in their victory in 1466 over Clan MacDonald at the Battle of Blar-na-Pairc. He took a distinguished part in the fight and behaved " to the advantage of his friend and notable loss of his enemy, " his conduct produced a friendship between Clan Mackenzie and Clan Brodie, which has continued. Clan Brodie joined the royal army led by the Earl of Atholl against the rebel son of the Lord of the Isles, Aonghas Óg. However, in 1481 Aonghas Óg defeated them at Lagabraad, killing 517 of the royal army. In 1562 the said Alexander Brodie, joined Clan Gordon and George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly in his rebellion against Mary Queen of Scots. They were defeated at the Battle of Corrichie. Huntley died, Brodie escaped but was denounced a rebel, and his estates declared forfeited. For four years the sentence of outlawry hung over his head, but in 1566, the Queen having forgiven Clan Gordon for their disloyalty, included Alexander Brodie in the royal warrant remitting the sentence against them, and restoring them their possessions. Lord Brodie was the target of an unsuccessful royalist plot for his capture in 1650. Clan Brodie joined the covenanters in the fight at the Battle of Auldearn against James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. After the defeat of the covenanters against the royalists, Clan Gordon sacked Brodie Castle and besieged Lethen House. The Brodies of Lethen held successfully for twelve weeks. Alexander Brodie of Lethen went south with a contingent of men. He commanded a troop with some credit at the disastrous Battle of Dunbar in 1650. By 1774 the Brodie estate was in financial trouble and sold by judicial sale. James Brodie of Brodie, the 21st Chief, was married to Lady Margaret Duff, daughter of William Duff, 1st Earl of Fife. The Earl of Fife came to the rescue, purchased the estate, returning half to The Brodie. In 1788 Deacon William Brodie was executed. Deacon Brodie was a descendant of the Milton branch of Clan Brodie.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.