Georgian Mansion Spectacle Amidst the Outer Hebrides Isle - Rodel House Reigns Supreme
Revamped Narrative
Step aboard the historical voyage that is Rodel House, nestled amidst the rugged landscape of the Hebrides. Overlooking a natural harbor at the eastern approaches to the Sound of Harris, it stands as a beacon of welcome in a treeless, rock-strewn wilderness (Fig 1). From its upper windows, the house gazes upon the maritime trade route of the Little Minch, and across the strait to the south, the Duirinish wing of Skye serves as a Reminder of Rodel's historic ties with the MacLeod chiefs, who ruled over Harris and St Kilda. In the spirit of adventure, these seafaring royals would sail over from Dunvegan to visit relatives and hunt deer; the vivacious Ruairidh Mor even resided at Rodel before inheriting the chiefship in 1595.
During a visit around 1580/90, the cartographer Timothy Pont jotted down the house - possibly fortified - and the magnificent church dedicated to St Clement that the 8th chief built at Rodel in the 1520s. It was here that he was laid to rest in 1547, his canopied wall tomb surviving as the finest example of late-medieval carving in the Hebrides. These structures form a remarkable ensemble, as brilliantly captured by artist William Daniell in 1818. The restored historic settlement owes its rejuvenation to Anderson Bakewell, the seafaring entrepreneur who has made Rodel House his home. This piece offers an exploration of Bakewell's painstaking efforts.
In 1779, the 23rd chief sold Harris and St Kilda to Alexander Macleod, his cousin, to whom he was financially bound. Prosperous captain of two East India Company ships, Macleod had bought Theobalds Park in Hertfordshire in 1771 to be near the ancestral home of his bride, Susanna Hume. After a failed political venture, he returned to Harris and embarked on a series of developments, embracing the spirit of government commissions investing in the Highlands to stimulate the economy. This ambitious spirit caught on and escalated improvements in fishing villages and rural industries, as well as the adoption of modern farming practices (Paragraph Adjustments).
Macleod's ventures focused on the principles of kelp ash, critical for manufacturing glass and gunpowder, and black cattle. The landscape brimmed with seaweed-strewn lazy beds, and most residents depended on the tacksmen, with Macleod striving to uplift their lives. He encouraged tradesmen and established a fishing station, teaching people how to catch cod, ling, and turbot and providing boats and nets (Revise Sentence Structure).
Afflicted with rodent infestations, there was a grim "keeping house" at Rodel when Martin Martin visited in 1695. However, Macleod envisioned improvements, constructing two quays at Rodel, complete with a boathouse, graving bank, a proposed mill, and, according to George Dempster, a "manufacturing house for teaching children the art of spinning [and] upper rooms full of pupils reading and writing," (Incorporate Insights). His dwelling would have possibly evolved into the current Rodel House, given its unusual tall, narrow structure, alignment of windows, and dockside position (Revise Sentence Structure).
As Lord Leverhulme would learn in the 1920s, ambitious commercial projects in the Hebrides can quickly perish. Macleod's death in 1790 signaled the decline of his Harris investments. Stores rotted away, the fishing operations ceased (Paragraph Adjustments), and his son and grandson pursued their careers in India and litigation, respectively (Paragraph Adjustments).
Despite financial setbacks, the 7th Earl of Dunmore inherited Harris in 1845. He is noted for promoting Harris tweed, initiating a stocking-knitting industry, and funding two restorations of St Clement's Church. Ambitious plans for grand houses were also floated, but with the North Harris deer forest sold by 1872, Rodel House became the principal island residence of the Dunmores until it was let to a sporting syndicate in 1903 and later sold to Lord Leverhulme in 1919 (Paragraph Adjustments).
The hotel era commenced, with Rodel House entertaining guests until the 1970s. The current owner bought the hotel in 2016 and, with architect Lachie Stewart, endeavored to restore Rodel House to its early 19th-century glory (Flow and Coherence). The dilapidated interior was completely overhauled, with the help of woodcraft masters Angus and Iain Alec Macleod, creating a seamless fusion of laird's houses, ships' cabins, and modern eco-design (Revise Sentence Structure).
The project was completed in 2023, with the house opening its doors to catered and serviced guest lettings. The 1840s steading, called the Sail Loft, was rebuilt for events (Flow and Coherence). Woodwork, guidance, and resources mainly came from architectural reclamation and design company Retrouvius (Selective Use of Enrichment Data).
Each guest room and common area brims with exquisite textiles, harmonizing contemporary Hebridean styling with a homely, unpretentious feel (Paragraph Adjustments). The ground-floor Gathering Room is adorned with weathered bead-and-butt boarding from an old mill, while the first-floor drawing room boasts simple Spitalfields-inspired panelling (Incorporate Insights). Maria Speake, Retrouvius' co-founder, orchestrated the meticulous interiors, incorporating modern furniture, sheepskins, corduroy upholstery, and woollen throws (Paragraph Adjustments).
Sip The Hearach, sample Harris Distillery's finest, and immerse yourself in the poems of Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh – the celebrated 17th-century MacLeod bardess, who was born and buried at Rodel (Context Limits). Contemplate the rich history as you traverse this remote, timeless haven,sharing stories over hearth and food, just as the lords, travelers, and naturalists of olden times have before you (Context Limits).
In the spirit of exploration and recreating the past, the restored historic settlement of Rodel House, now a blend of laird's houses, ships' cabins, and modern eco-design, invites travelers to delve into its history, offering a unique home-and-garden lifestyle experience coupled with the mystique of the Hebrides. Amidst this revitalized setting, guests can immerse themselves in a contemporary Hebridean style, complete with exquisite textiles, as they contemplate the rich history and stories of the past, just as olden travelers and naturalists have done before them, making it a destination for history enthusiasts, travelers, and nature lovers alike.
