Tulloch Castle – Bain Scottish Clan Jigsaw Puzzle

Some of my fondest wintertime memories are the family gathered around the dining room table, working a jigsaw puzzle as the snow fell. Teach your children a bit of family history in a fun activity this winter season -- or any time of year. The Bane, Bain or Bayne family was a noble family in Scotland, originally part of the McKay clan on Scotland’s north coast. The name comes from “Ban” in Gaelic and means “fair”. With Clan Mackay, Bains supported King Robert the Bruce and fought at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Duncan Bane (Bain, Bayne) was granted the barony of Tulloch in 1542, and it is believed Tulloch Castle was constructed about that time. It is located in Dingwall, in the Highlands of Scotland, and was a family home for the Bane family until 1762 when Kenneth Bayne, 8th Laird of Tulloch, sold it to his cousin, Henry Davidson. Tulloch Castle served as a hospital after the evacuation of Dunkirk, and has been a hostel for the local education authority. Today, it is a hotel and conference centre. Apparently, the Bains of Tulloch are not, and have never been, related to the MacBean clan. Photo Courtesy of Elliott Simpson Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0 Photo cropped and modified for size, contrast, colour and text.