CLSNA' LamontCentral Forum

On this day in Lamont history July 26, 1563, Queen Mary rode from Inveraray and slept at Strone. Next morning she came to Dunoon, on a visit to her favourite half-sister, the Countess of Argyll, and spent two days hunting, and signed several Charters. On 29 July she rode to Toward Castle, dined with the Lamont Chief (Sir John of Inveryne),and ferried over to Southanmin Castle at Fairlie.

This was a long planed for event. The castle was added onto and renovated in anticipation of the Queen’s visit. It is believed the castle was nothing more than a keep with walls until the coming visit of Mary and rooms and the great hall were hastily added for her visit. Mary, before she left Toward, planted a tree which lived to a great age. The tree was felled in 1818 by Lord Provost Finlay of Glasgow and he had a crown made from the wood which was presented to the tenth Duke of Hamilton and the crown is still preserved in the dining room at Dungravel in Lanarkshire. Mary departed the next day and her destination was Southannan on the Ayrshire coast just south of Fairlie which means she sailed across the forth and most likely in the birlinn of Sir John, clan chief

Jane /Jean Stewart, Countess of Argyll and her husband Archibald Campbell, 5th earl of Argyll Jane was Mary's half-sister, probably born about 1537and about five years older than the Queen. Jane was the illegitimate daughter of James V and Elizabeth Beaton, one of at least nine women who had a child with the Scottish king.

Stone is located next to Kilmun which fell out of Lamont hands into the Soup Clan control and was used a quiet summer retreat from Inveraray(Soup HQ).  A story for another day.