Artists paintings of clan castles
scottish art

Gordon Clan

Bydand

Clan Gordon information
gordon clan crest
painting of Gordon Castle
clan gordon tartan
Scottish gordon clan map
Clan crest badge
Gordon Castle
Gordon tartan
Clan Location
huntly castle painting
gordon castle painting
castle Inverero or Gordon in 1690
picture of Fyvie house
Huntly Castle
Gordon Castle
Gordon Castle 1690
Fyvie House
painting of Gordons and Greys to the front
gordon castle picture
painting of Balmoral Castle by Peter Hunter
Portrait of Alexander the 4th Duke of Gordon painted by Pompeo Batoni 1764
Gordons at Waterloo
Gordon Castle now
Balmoral Castle
Alexander Gordon
  • Clan Name: Gordon
  • Clan Motto: Bydand
  • Clan Chief: Granville Charles Gomer Gordon
  • Clan Seat:
  • Castle Location: Moray Scotland
  • Clan Lands: Moray, Scotland.
  • Plant Badge: Ivy

Clan History

Clan Gordon, otherwise referred to as the House of Gordon, has been linked to many castles within Scotland including Huntly Castle, Balmoral Castle, Castle Craig,
Auchindoun Castle, Gordon Castle and Fyvie Castle.

Huntly Castle was the Chief of Gordon’s seat from the fourteenth to the late seventeenth century and was originally known as Strathbogie Castle. The lands and castle being taken from the Strathbogie's (who had changed their allegiance just before Bannockburn ) and gifted to the Gordons by Robert the Bruce for services rendered.

It is now a beautiful ruin after being rebuilt many times during its history with the Clan Gordon. The castle remained the property of Clan Gordon until 1923 where it was handed over to the group called Historic Scotland, to which it still belongs today.

Gordon Castle, Gight near Fochabers, Moray, was built in 1789 for Alexander 4th Duke of Gordon and soon became the seat for the Chief of the Gordon Clan. Gordon Castle is famous for being the largest of all country houses ever to have been built in the whole of Scotland and even though most of the initial castle has been destroyed, there are still remains there now which can be visited. A detached country house rose from some of the ruins on the estate, and this still stands today. Rabbie Burns, who visited Alexander a few times wrote in his journal "the duke makes me happier than ever great man did — noble, princely, yet mild, condescending and affable, gay and kind — the Duchess charming, witty and sensible — God bless them."

Fyvie Castle is another castle that has been closely linked to Clan Gordon and was occupied by many members of the Clan Gordon between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Some parts of the castle were reported to have been built in the early thirteenth century, making it rich in history. According to some legends, it may have been built by William the Lion in about 1211. Although not featuring massively in the history of Clan Gordon, many people still visit the site today, not only because of the claims that it is haunted, but also because of the link between the estate and the Gordon Clan. It was a stronghold for the Royal family until 1390 after which it passed between various Scottish Clans, each of whom added a new tower to the original castle.

Balmoral Castle was bought in the 15th century by Alexander Gordon the 3rd Earl of Huntly and remained in the family's hands until it was sold in 1662.

The Gordon Clan had split allegiances over the Jacobite uprisings with clan members fighting on both sides.

Castles feature hugely in the history of Clan Gordon and many of the castles are still to be seen today, both renovated and restored or as ruins. Clan Gordon was reported to have been one of the most powerful of all Scottish Clans and indeed still is and the fact that they have been linked to a great many castles seems to support this suggestion.  

In 1794, the 4th Duke and Duchess of Gordon raised and recruited the 92nd (Gordon) Highlanders, renowned for their famous charge at Waterloo and went on to earn many battle honours until they were amalgamated with The Queens Own Highlanders in 1994. 

gordon banner

clan Gordon history
Scottish contemporary Art
Scottish contemporary Art

 

clan gordon shield and coat of arms

 

clan gordon shield

 

oil painting of William Gordon of Fyvie 1800
Painting of
Sir William Gordon of Fyvie
painted by Pompeo Batoni
in 1766 on display in
Fyvie Castle.

 

song about gordon clan

 

gordon painting

 

clan Gordon highlander painting

 

painting of Lord Charles Gordon
Lord Charles Gordon
1721 - 1780
Lord Charles, shown here in 1738, was a loyal supporter of the Hanoverian government and became the 3rd Duke of Gordon. Seven years later, at Culloden, the family took both sides as his younger brother, Lord Lewis, was a Jacobite.
Lewis managed to escape and was forced to live in exile.

 

old painting of highlander

Donald Gordon: Wearing a plaid and kilt of Gordon tartan. His sword is inscribed Andrea de Ferrara, the name of a sword maker from Belluno in Italy, many of whose swords came to Scotland. The painting was exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy 1870.