The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

The Estate of Bught. 2
thereto belonging, lying within the Territory of the Burgh
-of Inverness and Sheriffdom thereof, bounded with Mr
David Poulson of Kinmylies his lands at the north and
east, the water of Ness at the south, and the highway that
leads to Dunaincroy at the west parts respective, together
with the teind.'i both great and small, as well parsonage as
vicarage of the lands and others foresaid included with the
stock, and not to be separated therefrom."
The feu is 10 merks and 3s 4d Scots. It will be seen
that while three of the boundaries continue the same to the
present day, the west boundary is entirely altered. The
road described as leading to Dunaincroy followed the pre-
sent Glen-Urquhart Road unto a point a {q\n yards to the
south west of Bught Lodge ; then, inclining to the left, it
made pretty straight for the foot of the east slopes of
Torvean. The formation of the canal greatly changed
things in that neighbourhood, but a part of the old Dunain-
croy road to near Bught Lodge I distinctly recollect in the
years 1836-1841. Thus the original Bught did not include
Torvean, nor any land west of the old Dunaincroy road.
Neither did it include the Mills of Bught, with stances for
houses and rights of watercourses, which were parts of the
Barony of Kinmylies granted to the Bishop of Moray by
Alexander II. 1232-1236.
No particulars regarding the owners of Bught from
1562 have been noted, until about 1614, when Duncan
Forbes, first of Culloden, who had been brought from the
east country to Inverness by his stepfather, Fraser of
Strichen, established a large business there and became
owner. As Duncan Forbes " of Bught " he is very
frequently referred to, and until he purchased and became
designed "of Culloden " in 1637. It is understood he gave
these lands to a younger son, James Forbes, found in 1643,
who married Agnes Munro. In 1648 John Poison " of
Bught" is found. At a subsequent date Robert Chapman,
merchant. Burgess of Inverness, and Elizabeth Grant, his
second wife, are owners, and in embarassed circumstances.
By disposition dated i6th November, 1691, John Chap-
1