The next Friends of Argyll Estates Archives seminar will take place via zoom on Friday 13 March 2026 at 19:30 UK time when Jamie MacGregor will present ‘The Brooch of Lorn’.

This talk examines the history and cultural significance of the Brooch of Lorn, one of Scotland’s most symbolically powerful medieval artefacts. Traditionally believed to have been seized from Robert the Bruce by the MacDougalls in battle, the brooch became a potent symbol of clan identity, power, and memory, remaining in MacDougall hands for centuries. During the upheaval of the mid-seventeenth century, it was lost in the sacking of Gylen Castle on Kerrera and believed to have disappeared forever.
In 1824, the brooch made a dramatic and highly symbolic return to the MacDougall clan, restoring both the object and its meaning within clan tradition and heritage. This talk traces the brooch’s journey through conflict, loss, and recovery, and follows its story into the modern period, exploring how tradition, belief, and historical narrative have shaped its enduring significance. By situating the brooch within both its historical context and its symbolic landscape, the talk highlights how material objects can function as carriers of identity, memory, and continuity across generations.
Jamie is the Heritage Engagement and Access Officer at Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds, a role he has held for the past five years. He leads a team of volunteers and works across public engagement, learning, exhibitions, and access, with a strong focus on the sites history. Since joining Dunollie, he has become deeply engaged with the history of the site and the MacDougalls of Lorn, sharing that passion through delivering guided tours, while also training new guides and contributing to the development of exhibitions and interpretation. His work centres on making history accessible, engaging, and meaningful for a wide range of audiences.