Lindsays has helped to preserve papers that tell the story of the Dukes of Argyll.
The recent TV series A Very British Scandal, about the acrimonious divorce of Iain Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll and Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, turned the spotlight on the Campbell family and its long association with Inveraray and Argyllshire.
Though Lindsays’ roots don’t reach as deep as those of the Campbells – who arrived in Argyll in the 1200s – we have acted for the Argyll Estate since we were founded in 1815. Because of this long association, we were delighted to become involved in the Argyll Estate Archives’ Adopt a Charter project.
The project was set up to fund the urgent repair of a unique series of medieval documents housed at Inveraray Castle which provide invaluable insights into Scotland’s history and the lives, lands and business of the Earls of Argyll.
The charters
Lindsays has adopted three charters from the Argyll Papers, covering a turbulent period in the history of Argyll, which saw the creation of the Earldom of Argyll and the establishment of Inveraray as a Free Burgh of Barony in 1474. They are part of a set of 17 charters that a recent conservation survey identified as needing urgent preservation work, including stabilising parchment, supporting and infilling holes, and consolidating disintegrating seals.
‘Our’ three charters have now been cleaned, repaired and repackaged in archival folios to protect them for centuries to come.
“We can never replace the wording or seals that have already been lost – through holes, damage, fading ink etc – but we now have documents that we can study in detail, using UV lighting and magnifiers, and from which we can draw the most detail possible,” states Archivist Alison Diamond.
The realities of modern estates
The Argyll Estates Adopt a Charter project illustrates the very diverse challenges faced by modern landed estates. On the one hand, they are the stewards of historic assets that may be centuries old; on the other, they must be up to speed with 21st-century approaches to keeping their estates viable, from crowdfunding, renewable energy generation and property development to heritage tourism.
Modern estate management is in reality far less tempestuous or glamorous than the scenes portrayed in A Very British Scandal!
Susan Law Partner, Rural Services
Michael Yellowlees Partner and Head of Rural Services
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