28/08/2026
Did you know that public access to Castle Hill was defended by a number of courageous local women in 1835?
When Sir James Ewing built Castle House in 1824, he decided that he wanted to create a wall and enclose his new land. This decision was unpopular with his new neighbours, as it prevented public access to Castle Hill and the ruins of Dunoon Castle. This area was regarded as common ground, and used regularly by the women of the village to bleach their linen. To correct this, each night the women set to work demolishing the parts of the wall that had been built that day.
One newspaper of the time described this as ‘a large band of women, headed by an octogenarian heroine, and armed with poker and tongs.’ Eventually, the women were arrested and taken to the village of Inveraray to be tried at the court. However they were regarded locally as heroes and were set free.
They were described in popular newsprint at the time as ‘courageous women’ who ‘calmly but firmly strove for the freedom of Castle Hill.’ Next time you find yourself walking along the front past Castle House, remember the brave Dunoon women who safeguarded this route for the future.
