Innes House

Innes House lays nestled in the lands between the river Spey and Lossiemouth and has many stories to tell. Originally thought to be lands granted to Flemish born Berowald in 1160, by King Malcolm IV, this impressive building now stands in place, dominating the Moray skyline. In 1640 Berowald’s decedents, the Innes family built the charming home you see today (with a few modifications). The name Innes is thought to derive from a Pictish place name, meaning, ‘low lying land liable to flood.’ or from the Irish ‘Inis,’ meaning ‘island.’

The Innes’ struggled financially and the estate was sold to the 2nd Earl of Fife, James Duff, in the seventeenth century. The Duffs held a seat here for many years and we still have evidence of their life at Innes, within the books, letters, and paintings that we hold in our vast collection. At this time the extensive parkland was brought to life with the planting of a variety of trees from around the world, including the rare Virginia Camelia you can see today.

In the late 1890s Thomas Mackenzie, son of a local distiller, not only took over his father’s Dailuaine distillery nearby but also acquired Innes House from the Duffs and ran the estate for several years. Following this period, our ancestor Francis Tennant and his wife Annie purchased this beautiful home in 1913, having fallen in love with its charms some years earlier.

Francis was the youngest son of the 1st Lord of Glenconner, a Scottish industrialist and brother to the formidable Margot Tennant who went on to marry H.H Asquith, Prime Minister. Francis and Annie had six children but sadly lost their son Mark in 1916 at the Battle of the Somme. His memory is kept alive by the letters we have from the trenches and a small memorial erected in his honour outside the east wall of the house. Their eldest son, John Edward, or JET as he was nicknamed, spent much of his exciting life serving proudly during the first and second world wars. When he died suddenly in a plane crash the estate passed to his son Iain.

With an array of notable positions throughout his life, Sir Iain found himself on the board of Caledonian Associated Cinemas, which began broadcasting Grampian Television in 1961. He also held several directorships throughout the 1960s and 1980s and was appointed a member of the Royal Company of Archers and Knight of the Thistle in 1961, a very prestigious role. Alongside him in all his endeavours was his formidable wife, Lady Margaret Tennant (née Ogilvy) the daughter of the 7th Earl of Airlie. Joining the Wrens during the war years, she worked as an ambulance driver before continuing her selfless work as an enthusiastic community member.

During World War two, Innes was acquisitioned and became an RAF Officers mess and accommodation for the nearby decoy airfield of Miltown. Our newly created whisky room, ‘McGinty’s Still,’ was named to honour the room’s history.

In 1997 the house was completely refurbished by the next custodians, son of Sir Iain, Mark Tennant and his affable wife, Hermione. Their vision for this beautiful, cosy home can still be felt within the house today. Current owners Edward and Zoë continue the family legacy, preserving, and protecting the future of this magnificent estate.

Innes is so much more than somewhere with a fascinating story and an archive full of captivating history, it is a warm and welcoming family home and a place that will never leave you.