Old Photograph Forse House Scotland

Old photograph of Forse House on the A99 road near Wick in Caithness Scotland. Originally built by Captain John Sutherland in 1753 to replace the family’s crumbling cliff top castle, it remained as a family home up to 1905. After which the house has seen a variety of uses, including a poor house, an infirmary, a care home, and a hotel. The Sutherlands of Forse were a minor Scottish noble family. Kenneth Sutherland, 1st of Forse was the second son of William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland. They were a cadet branch of the Clan Sutherland. The Sutherland Lairds of Forse were seated at Forse Castle lived there until about the year 1660. In the early 16th century the Earldom of Sutherland passed through a female heiress to the Gordon family. Later, during the late 16th century the Sutherland Lairds of Forse supported the Earl of Caithness in a feud against the Gordon family who had taken over as Earls of Sutherland, and Nicolas Sutherland, brother of the Laird of Forse was killed at the Battle of Clynetradwell in 1590. John Sutherland of Forse was a Captain in Loudon's Highlanders regiment during the Jacobite rising of 1745. Upon the death of William Gordon, 18th Earl of Sutherland in 1766, George Sutherland of Forse made a claim for the Earldom, based on his descent from William, 5th Earl of Sutherland who died in 1370. However, the House of Lords found the case in favour of Elizabeth, only surviving daughter of the 18th Earl.[6] The last Sutherland Laird of Forse in the direct line died in 1909, leaving two daughters but no son.



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