Hempriggs House

[DSinc39156@aol.com]

The first recorded history of Hempriggs House was on or about 1646. The 
Dunbars of Hempriggs House welcomed James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose, 
into their home. He was at the time, the King’s Lt. General of the North. 
There are great cliffs with natural arches and stacks off the coast behind 
Hempriggs House. There is also an overgrown path that leads from Hempriggs 
House past the Castle of Oldwick and into the town of Wick that is still in 
rare use today. Nearby, the Ackergill Tower is now an accommodation for 
business functions and private parties. It has two rooms furnished from the 
original furniture of Hempriggs House. The rooms are aptly names Hempriggs 
and Dunbar.

    Anne Dunbar of Hempriggs House married John Sinclair of Stirkoke abt. 
1700. My own line comes from William Sinclair, natural son of Donald the 
Sailor Sinclair. Donald the Sailor is of the Murkle Sinclairs. William was 
born in Hempriggs House in 1793 and came to America in 1805 where he later 
married Henrietta Dunbar Sutherland sometime before 1820. The Dunbars are 
credited with creating all the well-built and finely laid out farms one sees 
all around the Sinclair bay area. Hempriggs House is no exception. Although 
now a Pensioner’s Home, the overgrown gardens cannot hide the sheer beauty of 
the house and estate. One can survey the area and see how grande it once was. 
Local volunteers try to keep the grounds maintained now, as there is no money 
to spend for it. The future of Hempriggs House is now up in the air. The 
Matron was notified last Christmas by the owner that the house was for sale, 
and the pensioners’ fate yet unknown. Alistair Fraser Sinclair, who currently 
owns parts of the Stirkoke estate is trying to purchase Hempriggs House and 
the estate, but sorting through almost four hundred years of property titles 
and boundary agreements is taking its toll on the whole process. I have 
information that if successful, Mr. Sinclair will try to keep the pensioner’s 
in place. I have photos of Hempriggs House and gardens if anyone is 
interested.

Donald the Junkie of Hempriggs and Indianapolis

Ref The Old Wick Parrish Church, by Micheal Gunn
Iris Hallam, Matron of Hempriggs
Descendants of George 4th. Earl Caithness by Pete Cummings
Sinclair Family History by Donald Sinclair
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