History and Heritage of B listed Briar Cottage on the banks of Loch Earn
We (Fraser and Kim) moved to Lochearnhead in 2008 to live in Briar Cottage, a 17th century “B listed” thatched cottage. Known as Easter Achraw until 1900, the earliest inhabitants on record were MacGregor’s, although they used the pseudonym Murray. The name MacGregor could only be used on pain of death after King James VI decreed it so in 1604, following alleged atrocities by the clan.
Briar Cottage original cruck ceiling
There is evidence of cottars houses on the farmlands here mapped in the 17th century when the land was owned by John Murray, Duke of Atholl. He sold it to Colonel Alexander Campbell of Fonnab on 2nd April 1719 - before Lochearnhead Village existed. This is documented in Neil McLaurin's book Creag An Tuirc, that traces the social history of Clan McLaren. Baby Christian Murray (MacGregor) was born here in 1727. Her parents were tenants of The Campbell's of Breadalbane who developed Edinample Castle from the 16th century. It stands on the south side of Loch Earn directly opposite Briar Cottages. The Campbell's also built Taymouth Castle in Kenmore. Tenant crofters cultivated crops on Achraw hill behind the house. From the 1790’s kinsmen of ancient local clan McLaren took up the tenancy and generations of offspring remained for the next 200 years.
Unfortunately, due to Covid 19 we can no longer invite you to view the original Scots pine cruck ceiling and cattle tethers when you come to stay in one of our holiday cottages. We hope that will change once the UK is deemed safer. 
Year of History Heritage and Archeology 2017 promoted by Visit Scotland. #HHA2017 
|
We keep the postcards above in our lounge. They are titled "On Loch Earn Side, Lochearnhead" from the Valentine's Postcard series and both were posted to Pitlochry. The photograph was taken around 1900. The coloured postcard was posted in 1907 using one King Edward VII half penny stamp. The black and white postcard has four King George VI ha'penny stamps. It was posted in 1944 though the stamp design was issued in 1937. 
The little girls in the postcards are MacLarens of Earnside. Their descendents have dropped in from far afield including America and Australia to see the house as it is now. Easter Auchraw and Briar Cottage McLarens are mentioned in Clan MacLaren society pamphlets and a book by Neil McLaurin. Titled Creag an Tuirc.
|
Creag An Tuirc by Neil McLaurin focuses on the social history of members of the Clan Labhran. MacLarens and McLaurins over a 300 year period. More information is available from the Clan MacLaren Society Meet the chief, chieftan and its diaspora annually in July when they gather for the Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Highland Games held in Lochearnhead on a chosen Saturday. Visit the MacLaren tent and watch them battle against The MacGregors in the tug of war. The MacLaren chief rallies the clan at Creag an Tuirc in Balquhidder on the Sunday morning following a church service.
Briar Cottage (Easter Achra/Achraw) was home to 200 years of a family of McLaren's. Imagine Kim's surprise when she discovered that her 7 times great grandmother was descended from the local clan. Janet McLaren born in 1670 in the Parish of Comrie. Janet married Patrick Stewart who was born on Lawers Estate in 1665.
Gaelic Language Spotting
In the early years of Briar Cottage and Easter Achraw farmlands, locals would have spoken Gaelic. I gather that most people spoke Gaelic in the rural areas until the early 17th century. There are still one or two in this area today that speak Gaelic and teach it to playgroup children. It is considered to be a dying language though the BBC does have a dedicated Gaelic speaking TV channel called BBC Alba. It is easy to spot the language to this day because of place ames. Look out for "Stob" meaning peak or summit. "Creag" a rock or crag like Creag An Tuirc - the crag behind Balquhidder Kitk that was the ancient rallying place for Clan MacLaren. "Alt" a stream or burn. "Mhor or Mor" means large or great. The word sìth or sìdh ( (shee) can mean hill or fairy and often fairy hill.There are many words that you might come across. The Loch Lomond &Trossachs National Park references some Gaelic names that are found in the area though you may enjoy researching others as you happen across them.