Tarbat House

ID: QZP40_CARD_5887 DESCRIPTION: Tarbat House is located 7km north-east of Invergordon, by the village of Milton. Tarbat House, a three-storey mansion of classical design, was built in 1787 by James McLeran for John MacKenzie, Lord MacLeod (d. 1789). The house remained in the MacKenzie family until the death of Sibell Lilian MacKenzie in 1962. In 1987 Tarbat House was the subject of an arson attack and the building is presently in a state of some disrepair. In her book 'Ross & Cromarty - An Illustrated Architectural History', Elizabeth Beaton quotes from the writings of Sir George Steuart MacKenzie of Contin, who in 1810 commented that, "Tarbat House is quite plain outside. Within are some handsome rooms. A great deal of space has been taken up by the architect having indulged himself in displaying wide landing spaces, and a spacious staircase. These are extremely pleasant during the summer months but are hardly suited to our long and dreary winters. The rooms are elegantly proportioned, and there is a fine view of Cromarty from the windows of the principal rooms." Tarbat House was erected on the site of New Tarbat House, built by George MacKenzie, Viscount Tarbat and 1st Earl of Cromartie in the late seventeenth century. Prior to the construction of Tarbat House the ruinous New Tarbat House was demolished and some of the remains are said to have been incorporated into the new building. PLACENAME: Milton DISTRICT: Invergordon OLD COUNTY/PARISH: ROSS: Kilmuir Easter SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Highland Libraries' Postcard Collection Asset ID: 37520 KEYWORDS:

• architecture
• building
• buildings