The Duchess Harbour, Lamlash Bay

Historical information provided by Jim Henderson

Lady Anne Hamilton was the daughter of Sir James Hamilton and Lady Mary Fielding, born at the palace of Whitehall in London.

In 1650 Anne became the Duchess of Hamilton and Countess of Arran as her uncle died leaving no male heirs. In 1656 she married William Douglas 1st Earl of Selkirk, who took the name of Hamilton. The marriage took place in Corstorphine, Edinburgh. Between 1657 and 1673 she gave birth to 13 children, the eldest being Lady Mary 1657-1666 and the youngest Lord Archibald 1673 – 1754. Three of their children died before the age of 10.

Following the marriage they laid the foundation of Hamilton Palace. In 1684 an architect was commissioned to re-design the Palace, which became the largest private residence in the western hemisphere. In the passage of time, due to mine workings and subsidence the Palace had to be demolished in 1932, the area now forms part of Strathclyde Park, which was given to the nation in lie of death duties in 1973.

During her long life, she died at the age of 85, Anne expressed her interest in the Island of Arran by being instrumental in several improvements for the community and created employment.

She developed communication by improving the existing paths and roads. Previously the only means of transporting goods, was by the use of a timber sledge pulled by horses overland or making use of the sea by sailing craft.

Several of her other actions are still evident to this day, almost 325 years later. These include the building of the original Lochranza Church, the construction of the walled garden at Brodick castle in 1710 and also the harbour in Lamlash Bay.

Anne instructed the harbour to be built to assist with the coal mining and salt industry. It provided a tidal area for the barques to load and unload goods, as well as giving the locals employment.

However, the design of the harbour meant that the harbour silted up, and became useless, even for small craft. Some years later a decision was made by Arran Estate to dismantle it. The stone work reclaimed from the harbour was used, partly, in the construction of the new Hamilton Terrace.

The foundation of the harbour is still evident to this day, at low tide. Many probably have walked by the area and never realised it’s history.