The Caput of the Barony of Irvine of Drum
Why it is important that the Barony of Drum be preserved and continued: |
The Barony of Irvine of Drum, continued uninterrupted from 1323 until 1975, when the 24th Baron of Drum, Henry Quentin Irvine died without issue. By his unilateral decision, taken without the agreement of his younger brothers and heirs, he had arranged that the Castle and House of Drum, together with some 400 acres of land, be transferred to the National Trust for Scotland in perpetuity. This effectively ended the rights of the Irvine family to reside at Drum and own the land.
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Provided future successors continue to matriculate their Arms at the Lyon Court in Edinburgh, the transfer of the Barony is now assured for future generations. The Rights over this small plot of land are now enshrined in Legal documentation. The present Chief's successor is Hugh Irvine, Younger of Drum, who in turn has a young son, Thomas Alexander Irvine.
Note: In 1998, with funding provided by the Irvine family and the Clan Irwin Association of America, the site of the Caput was encircled by dry stone walls and a commemorative granite stone was erected, bearing a short explanation of its historical significance. During the summer of 2002, the Clan Irwin Association funded the finishing touches to the Caput, when the grass was replaced with landscape chippings, and stepping-stones were added.
This article was copied with permission from "The Caput of the Barony of Irvine of Drum", written by David Irvine of Drum, XXVI- 3rd September 1998