Thursday, November 5, 2009

Sorbie Castle

My DNA tingling, I couldn't let this week's Theme Thursday subject
"castle" pass, without mentioning Sorbie Castle, my ancestral home.
Although I've never visited, I feel a strong kinship with this place and
it's at the very top of my bucket list. Located one mile east of the
village of Sorbie in Wigtownshire, southwestern Scotland, Sorbie
Castle, or Tower, is a late 16th Century L-plan tower house which
was built for the Hannay family and is now held by the Clan Hanna
Society.
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The castle was most likely built by Alexander A'Hanna of Sorbie, who
succeeded his father, Patrick, after the latter's murder in 1543. At
the time the castle was built, the A'Hannas were at the height of
power, as Lords of the Manor. Their land stretched across the
Machars of Galloway, to such an extent, that it was known as
Machars Hannay. It certainly appears that the Hannay and Sorbie
family histories are intertwined. The big question is whether the
Sorbies were a family in their own right, with their own distinct
history, or an offshoot of the Hannay or some other family, who took
the name Sorbie to denote their place of origin.
.
In its day, Sorbie Castle was a structure of considerable importance
and may have actually been preceded by an earlier wooden castle,
since there is a nearby mound, which MacGibbon and Ross mention
in their work, The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of
Scotland. In 1993, the Archaeological Department of Glasgow
University carried out a dig on the mound, finding shards of pottery,
identified as coming from Bordeau around 1250. They also found
pieces of coins of Henry III of France and traces of the base of a
flying bridge, like appear in the Bayeux tapestry.

For more photos of Sorbie Castle, click on a tour by Scott Hanna.
[HERE] Although, I've not met Scott personally, he is a fellow Hanna
descendant.

Looking east from Sorbie Village.

Map showing Sorbie Village, including Sorbie Tower, center


This just in...

FireLight just pointed out how much Sorbie Castle looks like the
ruins of Moy Castle, pictured below, used in the filming of one of
my favorite movies of all time, Powell and Pressburger's 1945
film, I Know Where I'm Going. She is so right. I've gotta watch it
tonight. Now, where'd I put those woolly socks?

Moy Castle

77 comments:

  1. Was it Patrick who was murdered? Perhaps there may be a ghost in the castle then? I think you need to research that for us. With your affinity for ghosts wouldn't it be grand to have one (or two) at the Manor and one abroad in your ancestral home?

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  2. That is a great story! I love it!

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  3. Very cool, you definitely must visit it!

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  4. I know, Kat! I can't wait to go and lay my hands on those stones and feel the energies! I definitely must do research on any ghosts at Sorbie.

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  5. Wonderful history! I love ancestry. I've heard I have ancestors from Ireland but I have documented proof (in the form of a book no less) that my family comes from Nottingham, England. I like to say that I'm related to the Sheriff :)

    Jen

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  6. Haunting! I love the way it's set into the dark trees, with the primitive path winding its way to the grandeur.

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  7. Oh Willow, you must go! I've spent a good bit of time in this area, and it's marvelous. Also, it's right next to Wigtown...book capitol divine!!

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  8. Pamela, did you say books? Ancestry and books...heaven. Sigh. I MUST go!!

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  9. I really was interested! I love geaneology.(However you spell it!) My Family name can only be traced back about 6 generations on my Father's side!

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  10. Willow, thank you for my official English Teacher portrait! I was getting tired of still wearing all those formal clothes in my last photo! {smiles}
    The first time I saw a castle....Windsor Castle...I was entranced. It seemed I was traveling back through the centuries. It was a cold, drizzly day in March. I was there all afternoon visiting every area open to the public. From that day was born my life long love of castles and their unique histories. Thank you so much for sharing the details and story behind Sorbie Castle!
    A bit of Castle Trivia: The late Queen Mother was born at Glamis Castle, which is said to be haunted!

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  11. Doesn't Sorbie look a great deal like the Castle ruin in the film
    I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING?

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  12. Good Lord, willow, this is effectively on my doorstep! I shall pilgrim my way there one day and send you the snaps!
    Great history lesson too.

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  13. FireLight, the Wood portrait is a perfect avatar! Love it! And, yes! Sorbie looks amazingly like the ruins in "I Know Where I'm Going". Oh, gosh, now I'm going to have to watch it tonight...aaa-gain.

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  14. Titus!!! Are you serious?! Oh, my-my-my!! I would absolutely love photos of Sorbie Tower. And on my pilgrimage to your neck of the woods, I must plan to pay you a little visit.

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  15. Interesting that the name "Alexander" can be traced clear back there....and down to our kids! :)

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  16. Simply beautiful! Enjoyed the history.

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  17. Why would anyone leave such a beautiful place?

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  18. I seem to recall passing through Sorbie many years ago on the way to the ferry at Stranraer. Sorry to say, I can't remember your castle.

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  19. Willow, after years of a fuzzy copy on VHS made from Cinemax, then ordering it about once a month from Netflix, I finally broke down and bought a DVD! I love all the EXTRA features on it...the photo gallery (images will download)....Scorsese's commentary...gee I had no idea of the company I was keeping....and then YOU!!! Yes, I am ready to curl up and take that train to Scotland and on to the Hebrides!
    "Hey, Colonel darling....would you pour a glass of Oban, please?"

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  20. FireLight, oh, me, TOO!! I had to buy myself a copy last year, after I kept checking it out from the library about once a month.

    Don't you just love the scene when Roger Livesey quotes the Celtic poem/song ending in, "you're the one for me," and looks right at Wendy Hiller with those piercing eyes? Oh...swoon.

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  21. Great story, and really fascinating information; you really must check it out in person.
    There are a few Scots lurking in my background also, but the details are lacking...

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  22. very interesting Willow! my ancestry is also scottish on both sides. but the prominent being on my mother's side. we too have a castle.. Kilravock Castle which is still held in Christian Trust.. per the wishes of the Rose Clan.. which is my ancestry. it is a very small world, is it not!

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  23. Love it, love it, Willow! It will be great to get those pics from Titus! Yes, indeed, you must go!

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  24. How cool is that, to have your very own real castle.

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  25. You must really visit Scotland and England soon.
    You would have such fun.

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  26. a cool piece of family history...would love to live in a castle...

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  27. I do agree! I think Livesey put the oooo oooo oooo in SWOOOOOOOON!

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  28. Cool history. You must visit one of these days.

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  29. There is such history, such story, in these photos. Living in the relatively young USA, it's amazing to know that these ancient structures actually grace our world.

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  30. I love history and especially old castles...thanks for sharing.

    much love

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  31. Oooh - how lucky to have an ancestral castle! You must visit!

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  32. Just think of the lives lived there...one of these days I want to make it to Scotland, where my grandparents and my mom lived. I still have some relatives there, and I do skype them and keep in touch with them. I need to do that before I die. Lovely images, Willow--that scenery is stunning.

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  33. Yes, serious. Give me a month (hectic schedule) and we'll see what we can do!
    And of course, you are welcome here anytime.

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  34. V e r y i n t e r e s t i n g. I love genealogy. I have done all of my family with Ancestory.Com. It is endless. I cannot stand to get to a couple and not have the next generation. I know of some Manors in our family but no castles. My husbands ancestory is Welsh. I might check out that movie. Zalery. That is the movie I watched yesterday.
    QMM

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  35. Ach those photos and the story gets my soul singing and longing to find my ancestral home also...though O'Brien Tower is now a tourist info center in Ireland...I say we ditch our everyday lives and go trekking!!

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  36. So you feel a strong kinship with this castle-- that is exactly how I felt with my visit to Kyoto-- you really should go some day-- there is a balance-- center-- stillness there.

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  37. Layers, actually, I have been to the lovely Kyoto, and absolutely loved it!

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  38. Your extremely interesting post reminds me of when I took a trip to Scotland, back in 1968. Before I left, I remember my Scots dad telling me, "If you find out that we have a castle over there, don't tell anyone! I'm afraid we'd have to pay a lot of back taxes!" LOL! Happy TT!

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  39. What a lovely setting for your family tree!

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  40. Off the subject, your new header is stunning. Very nice!

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  41. If I had an ancestral castle, I'd storm it under cover of darkness!

    Of course, I'd be exceptionally careful not to disturb anything. Easy on the heritage, bub.

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  42. Hmm... I have some Scot ancestry. Maybe I need to check for a castle...

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  43. What a powerful, powerful energy Sorbie Castle projects. Intriguing.

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  44. Thank you, Willow, for introducing me to Sorbie Castle. I truly love castle and have several books containing photos, maps, drawings, etc. of castles. I don't believe that any contain Sorbie, however.

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  45. Hello Willow,

    Seems to me you ought to be planning a BIG trip over here without further delay! Without wishing to spoil the romance for anyone, I have to say that many Scottish tower houses look similar - and there are plenty of them. I don't know the film (nothing new) but love Wendy Hiller, so I should look out for it.

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  46. Such history....

    nothing even slightly romantic in this family tree...

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  47. So cool to have and know about the castle and your ancestry. I hope you do go visit it. And now, I have to watch the movie myself!

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  48. Derrick, oh, castle here, castle there! I know you have them on every corner over there, but we still think your side of the pond is pretty amazing.

    If you like Wendy Hiller, you are gonna LOVE this movie!!

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  49. Never heard of the film! I must see it.

    And you must go visit your ancestral castle sometime, yes? I say YES!!

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  50. Ancestrat castle and possible ghosts; you've got to get there asap Willow.

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  51. fascinating history. next year is my f's 60th birthday and I'm lobbying hard that we make a trip to scotland to celebrate. he's not of scottish descent but is of irish and english - but we've been to both ireland and england before.

    I hope it won't be soon before you can cross sorbie castle off your bucket list.

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  52. Hey Willow!

    Just chiming in from Long Island. I also have a clan castle which called to me - before I knew it belonged to my clan!

    I descend from Clan MacRae, and the lovely Castle Eilean Donan bears the name... one of the happiest days of my life was when I stood on the stone bridge in front of the castle and took my own picture (thanks, tripod).

    Scotland is heaven.

    Cheers!

    - M

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  53. Great story and a beautiful castle, too!

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  54. willow - you really will have to do a pilgrimage to Scotland one day and view it for yourself.

    At the same time you can take in Paris and we'll meet up, Everyone should visit Paris at least once in their life. Despite being a Londoner born and bred Paris - I have to say it through gritted teeth - is the most beautiful city ever.

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  55. Very cool! Wish I had a castle in my, er... My ancestors' past!

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  56. I hope you get to visit your castle some day!

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  57. Oh, i'd love to see that movie too. Yes, i remember last time you wrote our your ancestral home and when you first showed your tartan. Loved it then, love it now. I really need to show my family tartan one of these days too. It is gorgeous.

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  58. You MUST go, Willow. (And you might as well do a little detour down to England and visit me while you are in the UK.)
    And I must see that film!

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  59. I love learning about geneology and history. I do hope you go! Happy TT.

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  60. fascinating - wonder if this is close to Derrick's digs - love your new header - gorgeous :)

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  61. The similarities of the castles is really amazing, but maybe that was a popular style, as castles go. Now, I have an L-plan living room..as close as I'll ever get to living in a castle!
    Do visit soon, and tell us about the ghosties there!
    Do you know Shirley Jackson's,"We Have always Lived in the Castle"?woooooo

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  62. Lyn, I just Googled "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" and came up with this little tidbit...

    Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea?
    Oh no, said Merricat, you'll poison me.
    Merricat, said Connie, would you like to go to sleep?
    Down in the boneyard ten feet deep!

    (((willies)))

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  63. How cool is that, that you get your very own ancestral castle. Perhaps with a little work, you could hold the ball there next year.

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  64. I've been to Sorbie Castle, it's not too far from here, you really must visit. Do you know that Wigtown is Scotland's book town, it's bursting with second-hand bookshops, and has a big annual book festival? I go every year, it's great. You have to wrap up warm though.

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  65. Eryl, I am TOTally envious!! I must plan to visit during the annual book festival. I'll be on cloud nine!!

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  66. That was a brillant and interesting post Willow!You should go there one day!That'll be cool!

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  67. Amazing how many things are hidden from us in the ground...so nice to learn things about this castle, thanks for sharing :)

    xoxo

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  68. What a nice set of pictures and prose.

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  69. I enjoyed the history lesson and I've never heard of that movie so I have to find it now. Don't think they show it on TCM or, if they do, very seldom. Love English movies.

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  70. Funny how we feel so connected to our Celtic roots isn't it? You should make the effort to visit. It's one of many fantastic castles in Scotland. I still think Edinburgh is my favourite, perched high on that hill. And unlike the English Grenadiers, the Scotts Guards will actually give you a wink and even a chat! Great place.

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  71. I love the photograph. How did the photographer manage to get such a small area in focus, and the rest soft?

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  72. I love all the castles I've seen this week. Whether intact or ruins, they all carry a history and a sense of spirits, waiting to tell their tales.
    Happy TT

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  73. Haven't been to Sorbie village, but did just return from a lovely 2-week trip through England and the Scottish highlands last month. It was divine. (I'm part English and part Scottish, which made it all the richer.)

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  74. Paul (Sorbie) ClarkWed Mar 24, 05:00:00 PM

    I found this information about Sorbie Castle very interesting! As the last male in our branch of the Sorbie family I was taken to the castle when I was 15 for a tour. The story of the castle was a bit muddled (or my memory of it at least is) but I was under the impression that an "Mc", or similar, named family claimed possession, this was around 1986. At the time I remember thinking that "if they are going to be squatters in MY castle, the least they could do is put a roof on the place!" As a young teen it was a wonderful way to experience history.
    As for genealogy, having the name Sorbie is both a curse and lucky as it is very rare! Anyone you find with that name is a relative :) Actually In all my travels I have never met anyone outside my father, grandmother, aunts etc., that have that name.
    Thanks again for putting up this information.

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  75. Hello, I found your post while searching Sorbie Castle. I too am a descendant. Someday I will travel to Scotland, as my mother and grandmother before me, maybe I will take my daughter. My grandmothers maiden name was Hanna, and she has studied the family extensively. I think we are fortunate to be able to trace our roots back so far into history. Best wishes!

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  76. Linda Hanna GreenSun Sep 02, 03:23:00 PM

    I am a Hanna and I would like to know if the Annual Clan Hannay meeting at Sorbey Tower is still held.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)