Scottish History & the McMillans

On the east shore of Loch Sween in Knapdale, Scotland is Castle Sween; the earliest existing stone castle in Scotland.  It was build in the mid 1100's.  Castle Sween was the residence of Alexander MacMillan, 5th of Knap, and 12th Chief of the Clan MacMillan.  The great oblong tower on the left and the cylindrical tower were added in the late 1400's; the latter was called MacMillan's Tower.  The castle was destroyed by Sir Alexander MacDonald in 1647.

R.H. McMillan Jr stands next to Kilmory Knap Chapel, the first McMillan church and cemetery in Knapdale, Scotland.  It was built in the 1100's.  The free standing 12 ft high cross, on of the finest in Scotland, marks the grave of Chief Alexander MacMillan who died in the late 1400's.

Finlaystone, home of the Earls of Glencairn for four centuries, is now the seat of the Chief of the Clan MacMillan, George MacMillan, who owns and runs the estate.  The hear of the house (14th Century) was added to in 1760 and again in 1900 by Sir John Burnett for George Kidston, great grand-father of Sir Gordon McMillan, the past chief.  The tree between the tower and the tent to the right is the yew tree under which John Knox held his 1st reformation communion,  Presbyterian Church service.



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