A small loch in Dumfries and Galloway, Lochinvar lies in the hills to the east of The Glenkens, 3 miles (5 km) north-east of St John's Town of Dalry. The Lochinvar Burn flows south towards the Water of Ken and on an flooded islet in the loch stand the ruins of a former stronghold of the Gordons of Lochinvar, one of whom was featured as 'Young Lochinvar' in Lady Heron's song in Sir Walter Scott's 'Marmion'. Lochinvar is corrupted gaelic, Loch an barr, meaning Loch at the top (hilltop). It lies 700 feet above sea level. From here it is an impressive sight looking south down the valley towards Loch Ken, past the town of New Galloway and onwards to the Solway Firth.
Lochinvar is up a narrow track and it is now the site of a small reservoir and Power station. The ruined castle was on an island in the middle of a lake, but it's level was raised in the 1960's and now the island is totally under water. However there is a stone cairn by the roadside which has a plaque stating:
"Lochinvar. Level raised 1968. An island now submerged was the site of a ruin. Stones from which have been used to build this cairn".
In the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland on 23rd Sept 1592 there is a "Charge to Lord Maxwell to restore to Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar and to certain of his tenants, goods reft from them". The letter of charge was executed on 1st October 1592 at the Lords dwelling in Dumfries and one of the persons mentioned being present at the time was Andro Sorbey, servitor to the Laird of Lochinvar. A 'servitor' was a male servant. The Laird of Lochinvar, Sir John Gordon, was the Chief of the Galloway Gordons and had his seat and a great deal of his property in Kirkcudbright. His ancestors, the anciently Knights of Lochinvar, owned the district called the Glenkens in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright from about the 14th century. From there they branched out and became considerable landowners in Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire.
Andro Sorbey's master, Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar was a supporter of Mary Queen of Scots. She appointed him Justiciar of the Stewartry in 1555. He was at the battle of Langside in 1568 which Mary lost and subsequently she had to leave Scotland never to return. In 1593 Sir John Gordon was commisioned with others to pacify the West Marches and establish good rule in the borders. With a boss like that, Andro Sorbey must must have seen quite a bit of action. It's very hard to find 'Sorbie' written as a surname so far back, so this is quite a find and a very interesting one. This is strong evidence on the side of an independent Sorbie family.
It certainly gives credence to the argument that the Sorbies were a family in their own right and not an offshoot of any other, such as the Hannays. The year mentioned above, 1592 was just before the time when according to family folklore, the Sorbies were supposedly banished from Galloway by James VI. Could Andro have had any involvement with this?
Sir John Gordon was also on the jury in the trial of James, Earl of Morton for the murder of Queen Mary's husband Henry Darnley. It would also have been James VI (Queen Mary's son) who commissioned Sir John to establish good rule in the borders. So Andro must have had contact with King James as well. When Sir John died in 1604 he was succeeded by his son, Robert. Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar got into Court favour and was made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber after King James VI had succeeded to the English throne (In 1603 becoming James 1 of Great Britain) and moved to London.
Someone in such a high position as servitor to Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar would have been a very important job. Its speculation, but there may be more than a possibility there could be a connection with the Sorbie banishment. Andro Sorby's master would have had a fair amount of contact with the Royal family, so being around as a servitor he must have had as well. James was feared as a despotic and cruel tyrant. He could be highly vindictive if there was the slightest attack on his personal dignity, or any speech, lampoon or other writing, infringing his kingly prerogative.
For instance, in England, any man there, who wrote against the Scottish nation were shipped to Scotland, had their right hand cut of and then their head. Could Andro or a family member have caused offence to James in some way? James was a certainly a wee bit mad and maybe it rubbed off on Sir Robert when he worked for him. These theories should be considered. However it should be added that a look through 'Pitcairns Criminal Trials in Scotland 1488- 1624' does not throw up anything in connection with a Sorbie banishment,
Great Scottish patriot, writer and poet. Educated at the Old High School in Edinburgh, he then studied Law at the University of Edinburgh and became an advocate. Sir Walter Scott wrote a number of long ballads about the days of chivalry, outlaws and culture of the Scottish Border region where the stirring, romantic story of Lochinvar, from "Marmion" (Section v, xii) is one of them.
His novels are steeped in the traditions and customs of Scotland, based on real events and characters not "the fine-spun cobwebs of the brain." He did much towards identifying and nurturing a Scottish cultural identity, and indeed invented many expressions of this identity, through modern tartans, created for King George IV's visit in 1822, and a propensity to re-write, or at least augment, history.
His literary works include Marmion (1808), Waverley (1814), Kenilworth (1821), Ivanhoe (1820), The Bride of Lammermoor (1819), Heart of Midlothian (1818), Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45 and Rob Roy (1818).
Scott was also a translator, biographer (of Napoleon) and passionate collector of all things Scottish. He made his home at Abbotsford House, on the banks of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders and was buried in the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey, located near to St. Boswells.
"Lochinvar"
O young Lochinvar is come out of the west,
Through all the wide Border his steed was the best;
And save his good broadsword he weapons had none.
He rode all unarm'd, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young LochinvarHe staid not for brake, and he stoppd not for stone.
He swam the Eske river where ford there was none;
But ere he alighted at Netherby gate,
The bride had consented, the gallant came late:
For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.So boldly he enter'd the Netherby Hall,
Among bride's-men, and kinsmen, and brothers and all:
Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword,
(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word,)
'O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war.
Or to dance at our bridal. young Lord Lochinvar?''I long woo'd your daughter, my suit you denied;-
Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide-
And now I am come, with this lost love of mine.
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar.'The bride kiss'd the goblet: the knight took it up.
He quaff'd off the wine, and he threw down the cup.
She lookd down to blush. and she look'd up to sigh.
With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye.
He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar, -
'Now tread we a measure!' said young Lochinvar.So stately his form, and so lovely her face.
That never a hall such a galliard did grace;
While her mother did fret, and her father did fume,
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume;
And the bride-maidens whisper'd, "Twere better by far
To have match'd our fair cousin with young Lochinvar.'One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear.
When they reach'd the hall-door, and the charger stood near;
So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung,
So light to the saddle before her he sprung!
'She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur;
Theyll have fleet steeds that follow', quoth young Lochinvar.There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan;
Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran:
There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee,
But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see.
So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,
Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?Meaning of unusual words:
scaur=area of steep exposed rock on a hillside.St John's Town of Dalry
Dumfries and GallowayA village of The Glenkens in Dumfries and Galloway, St John's Town of Dalry overlooks the Water of Ken, 3 miles (5 km) north of New Galloway. Situated on an old pilgrimage route and named after the Knights of St John, a medieval settlement here was extended and developed as a planned village from the late 18th century by the Earl of Galloway. Its Town Hall dates from 1859. The Southern Upland Way passes through the churchyard of the gothic-style Dalry Parish Church which was built in 1830-32. Two miles (3 km) to the north, on the east side of Earlston Loch, stands Earlston Castle, a former stronghold of the Gordons of Earlston.
The Glenkens, with the 'Cairnsmore of Carsphairn' in the far distance.
Water of Ken
A stream of Dumfries and Galloway, the Water of Ken rises on the southern slope of Blacklorg Hill to the north-east of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn. It flows south-westwards into the Glenkens valley through Casfad Loch and Earlstoun Loch, passing St John's Town of Dalray and New Galloway before expanding in width to form Loch Ken. To the west of Castle Douglas it joins the River Dee, a total of 28.5 miles (46 km) from its source. A bridge built over the Water of Ken, near New Galloway, was designed by the engineer John Rennie (1761-1821). To the west, Glen Luce has the grave of the original James Gordon of Lochinvar, - the 'Young Lochinvar'.
The Water of Ken, looking southward from Rennie's bridge at New Galloway.
Acknowledgment : Thanks to Thomas Sorbie of London for his invaluable research.
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