Clan Hunter Timeline

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Clan Hunter Timeline

Follow the Clan Hunter Timeline through the ages.

1300-1600 Image of Robert the Bruce
1600-1900 Image of Rob Roy

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1995
Madam Pauline Hunter 30th Clan Chief

Madam Pauline Natalie Hunter became the 30th Chief of Clan Hunter she has been most active in the promotion of Clan Hunter worldwide. She is our fifth female Clan Chief.

1983
Clan Hunter Crest

Clan Hunter is formed.

1968
29th-Laird-Nei-Hunter-2

Neil Hunter the 29th laird continued the conflict against the incursion of further industrialisation at Hunterston. Neil married Sonia Furlong of Gloucestershire in England and they had seven children, one daughter and six sons.

1968
General_view,_Pass_of_Brander

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland permits the ordination of women as ministers.

1954
Clan Hunter History

In February 1954, Eleanora Agnes Cochran-Patrick (Aunt Nora) matriculated Arms as the 28th laird. Hunterston passed across to the descendants of Jane Hunter’s sister.

1934

The Scottish National Party is founded.

1905
Clan Hunter History - General Sir Aylmer Hunter Weston

The 27th laird, Lieutenant General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, KCB, DSO, JP, DL, Member of Parliament to North Ayrshire married Grace Strang Steel of Philiphaugh, Selkirk in 1905. However, they had no children. Aylmer died in 1940 and Grace in 1954.

1883
Jane Hunter-Weston Stained Glass Arms 1883

Jane Hunter-Weston

1876

Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone.

1863
Clan Hunter History

Jane married Gould Read Weston a career officer in the British Indian Army. In 1880 she obtained a Royal licence from Queen Victoria to assume the name and Arms of Hunter-Weston. They had two sons, Aylmer and Reginald.

1850
Clan Hunter History

Highland clearances drive people off the land to make way for sheep which sparks a Scottish diaspora.

1799
Clan Hunter History

The 25th laird, Robert was the last laird to be born in the Castle. He obtained a Royal Charter for the lands at Hunterston in 1829 and had two daughters, Jane and Eleanora.

1796
Portrait of Eleanora Hunter 1796

Portrait of Eleanora Hunter

1796
28th-Laird-Eleanora-Hunter

Eleanora Helen Hunter became the 24th laird. Helen married her cousin Robert Caldwell a mariner and shipowner who assumed the surname of Hunter. They constructed Hunterston House and expanded the farmland by draining marshland around Hunterston Castle.

1796
Clan Hunter History

Robert Burns dies.

1746

The Battle of Culloden ends the Jacobite rising.

1732

The 23rd laird, Robert Hunter married Janet Aitchison of Glasgow. Their two sons died young and two of their daughters were unmarried. Their third daughter, Eleonora succeeded her father on his death in 1796.

1707

The Act of Union unites the English and Scottish Parliaments.

1704
Marion Crawfurd 1704 Image of Stained Glass window

Marion Crawfurd

1698

The Bank of Scotland is founded by an Act of the Scottish Parliament and the Darien expedition to Panama fails inflicting damage to the Scottish economy. Patrick, the 22nd laird married Marion Crawford and they had ten children.

1698

As the 21st laird Patrick (II) had his title to the land ratified by King William II on 27th June 1698.

1692

Massacre of Glencoe.

1648
Marion Cunninghame 1648

Marion Cunninghame

1627
Clan Hunter History

Robert, the 20th laird enters Glasgow University. Robert served in the Ayrshire Yeomanry and died in 1679.

1611
Clan Hunter History

Robert Huntar (III) the 18th laird had no children. The lairdship was passed through his sister Jean to her children in 1611. Diverting the inheritance through the female line explains the remarkable way the Hunters of Hunterston have maintained their unbroken history in Scotland.

1606

The Union Flag is adopted for England, Scotland and Wales.

1605
Clan Hunter History 21st Laird

Guy Fawkes is arrested during an attempt to blow up the English Parliament. As Lady Hunterston, Jean and her husband Patrick became co-heirs of Hunterston. Patrick is listed as the 19th laird but the inheritance came through his wife and her mother, both named Jean.

1587
Clan Hunter History

Mary, Queen of Scots is beheaded by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England.

1568
Robert the Bruce

The 17th laird, Robert Hunter of Hunterstoune inherits as a minor. Later, he too fought beside Queen Mary at the Battle of Langside. He was a supporter of the Reformed Religion (Protestantism).

1547
Clan Hunter History

Mungo Hunter, the 16th laird is killed at Battle of Pinkie. Mungo added the external stairs and the Great Hall to Hunterston Castle.

1542
Clan Hunter History

Mary Queen of Scots is born and is crowned at Stirling Castle the following year.

1522
Jonet Montgomerie 1522

Jonet Montgomerie

1513
Clan Hunter History

The 14th laird, John Hunter, is killed Battle of Flodden Field alongside King James IV. The 15th Laird, Robert Huntar of Huntarstoune was a minor when his father fell.

1487
Image of stained glass representation of Margaret Cathcart 4787

Margaret Cathcart

1468

The islands of Orkney and Shetland are ceded to Scotland from Norway.

1462
Silver Penny Heads

13th laird, Archibald Huntar is recorded on the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland as having paid rent to the Crown confirming his position as Hereditary Keeper of the Royal Forests.

1454
Silver Penny Tails

12th laird, William Huntar died while his son was a minor. His brother John, Hereditary Forrester became his guardian.

1412

Foundation of the University of St Andrews

1374
Hunterston Castle With Daffodils

A grant of land is given to William Hunter 10th laird. The original Charter document remains at Hunterston to this day.

1328
Hunters at Edinbuirgh Castle

Treaty of Edinburgh recognised Scotland’s Independence ending 30 years of Wars of Independence.

1314
Clan Hunter Trainer

The 9th laird fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English invaders whose defeat at Bannockburn is celebrated to this day.

1295

The 7th laird would have been alive during the First Interregnum when Edward I of England “the Hammer of the Scots” makes John Balliol King of Scotland.

1263

The 5th laird, Ardneil Huntar fought for King Alexander III of Scotland at the Battle of Largs, 6 miles from Hunterston. Scotland won this last battle against the Vikings on the British mainland.

1260

The 8th laird, Aylmer le Huntar del Counte de Are (Ayr) of the county of Ayr appears on the Ragman Rolls submitting to Edward I of England at Berwick.

1233

The 4th laird, John Deo Venator witnessed a deed in Glasgow Church records.

1214

The 3rd laird, Venator (The Hunter) is named in charters during the reign of King Alexander II of Scotland.

1153

The 2nd laird, Norman I received a grant of land from King Malcolm IV of Scotland.

1136

Glasgow Cathedral is consecrated by King David I. It is the oldest building in Glasgow.

1124
Clan Hunter History

The Hunters were among Norman nobles who came to Scotland by invitation of David I they received a Royal appointment to hunt for the King of Scotland.

1116
1st Laird Norman

Norman Venator is mentioned in an Inquisition held by David, then Prince of the Cumbrians.

1066
Old Coin Image

William I “the Conqueror” invades England. He takes hostage four Scottish princes. One of these, David grew up in the Norman Court and became King David I of Scotland.

911
Viking Boat

Ancestors of the Hunters were Norsemen who invaded Normandy under Rollo (later Duke of Normandy) and became Normans.

802
History drawing

The sacred isle of Iona is burned by the Vikings.

700
hunterston brooch

The Hunterston Brooch is crafted in the ancient kingdom of Dalriada.

80 AD
Norman knight

The Roman general Agricola marches his army into Scotland and subdues the Caledonian tribes.

The Clan Timeline continues to this day and will continue for generations to come with the careful stewarding of our current and future Clan Chiefs.

You can learn even more about the origins of the Clan Hunter on our Clan History page,  or Wikipedia page.

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DIRECTIONS

You will find us off the A78 just north of West Kilbride. Look for our driveway marked by stone pillars and "Hunterston Estate" 

ADDRESS

Hunterston KA23 9QG
Telephone: 07980 209060
*This number is not continuously manned, so please do leave us a message. 

OPENING TIMES AND ACCESS

Acccess to Hunterston Castle is strictly by appointment. Note that as a historic monument, wheel chair access is limited. More visitor information is available on our visitors page .  Please email us to arrange a visit.