Old Manse

About

The Old Manse, Scalpay, now Two Harbours Guest House, is built on the original Campbell house site where Bonnie Prince Charlie was offered refuge during his escape after the battle of Culloden in 1746.

This sheltered site may date back to the 1600’s when the MacLeod Clan Chief installed a steward to manage his Deer Forest in the North Harris Hills.  Generations later Donald Campbell and his family were unexpected hosts to the arrival of Charles Edward Stuart in 1746 whilst he attempted to flee to France.  In 1754 Donald’s son Kenneth, stayed on whilst the rest of the family emigrated to North Carolina. 

From the 1820s Scalpay was being divided up into crofts for families moved from their land in the west.  Possibly Croft 4 held the plot that Kenneth Campbell (not the same one) built the “new” house in the 1880s on the site of the original.  It was built as a Drapers and Grocer as indicated by the 1899 photograph of “Bonnie Prince Charlies House” - above the porch he installed a plaque – the inscription in gaelic read  “on this site was the house in which Bonnie Prince Charlie passed some of his days as a fugitive in his own rightful land”.  It was only later, 1930s/40s? that it was purchased by the church  – the plaque being covered over with harling.  It remained a manse until maybe late 80s when it moved back into private ownership - the owner having a new plaque installed.  In 2014 it opened as Two Harbours Guest House and visitors to the island are more than welcome to photograph the plaque.