A new box for Sophy (Timins) MacDougall's bodice:
As part of Dunollie’s ongoing collections-based project ‘Sophy & White’, one of our goals is to audit, review and stabilise both of the collections that we care for here at Dunollie. This includes a collection of historic textiles inherited from the MacDougalls of Dunollie themselves over the last decade.
When two staff members from the National Library of Scotland visited our site in October 2024 to learn more about Dunollie, they were generous enough to offer to support our project and asked what challenges we were facing in the current stage. We were struggling to re home an iconic 19th century bodice once owned by Sophy MacDougall (formerly Timins), wife of the clan’s 25th chief. As it has such large, puffed sleeves – which to protect the garment must remain so – a custom made to measure box was necessary. The wonderful team at the National Library of Scotland kindly had this box made for and delivered to us, and one of Dunollie’s most eye-catching pieces is in a safe home once more.
Sophy, who married Admiral John MacDougall, 25th Chief of the clan, was the great woman of the 19th century at Dunollie. After meeting Sophy in Cheltenham, John wrote to her father in 1825 that he wanted to marry her – she was just 17, and he was 36. Her father spoke highly of Sophy, writing that “I have never in one instance of her life had to complain of the disposition of a child whose whole conduct from infancy has been a source of comfort and honest pride in her parent.” He also stated that he was not able to pass over any sort of substantial dowry, should John and Sophy marry. Nevertheless, in 1826, they wed, and Sophy moved from Cheltenham, in England, up to the blustery west coast of Scotland, to take up residency at Dunollie as the wife of a Highland Chief.
Though Sophy was to go on to become one of the most respected names in the clan’s story, it did not happen overnight. In 1835, John’s mother Louisa Maxwell wrote to his brother Allan that she had misgivings about the way that Sophy was managing Dunollie. She exclaimed that Sophy “sits upstairs like a china ornament and entrust(s) everything entirely to the management of servants, who don’t care at what risk or expense the thing is done if it is done in appearance to please the Master or the mistress.” Sophy, whether she knew about these comments or not, went on to prove herself much more than just a pretty ornament. By the time John went to sea in 1846, he was confidently leaving Sophy in charge of his affairs, rather than trusting them to his brothers, who resented his confidence in his wife. She wrote to John in 1846 that she had assured Allan “that in your absence you had confided the superintendence of your affairs to me” and that John’s other brother, Peter, had been firmly reminded that “you had thought fit to entrust me with the management of this place.” Peter was, Sophy’s letter goes on to say, in a “towering rage” – but this did not shake Sophy. She was proud that her husband seen her for the intelligent, capable woman that she was – able to run their home more effectively than any brother could in his absence.
She proved herself a proactive and efficient estate manager later in 1846 when a disease attacks potato crops throughout the Highlands. Sophy writes to John, “some of your tenants lost 40 out of 50 barrels. Out of 45 carts dug here 5 were destroyed, and had I not made the men open the pits eight days after they were dug, and aired and dried the whole, putting some up with dry sand and some with lime, our loss would also have been serious.”
These responsibilities that were such a source of pride for Sophy, did also weigh heavily on her, with John’s mother writing to him in 1848 to say that Sophy “is very thin and looks careworn, which is not to be wondered at after three years and more of anxiety… from the weight of responsibility that has naturally devolved upon her.” Raising 9 children whilst carrying the responsibility of an estate like Dunollie could have been no easy feat, but Sophy carried on regardless – like the strong MacDougall women before and after her.
We have a number of items of Sophy’s clothing in our collection, from the 1830’s onward. She was fond of a bright colour palettes including various shades of pink – the boldest of which colours the bodice we have thankfully re-homed. It is a shocking shade of magenta pink, and the incredibly wide silhouette created by both the widened neckline and extravagant puffed sleeves were a particular staple of 1830’s high fashion – often paired with extravagant hats and an above the ankle length petticoat. A piece like this would have been commissioned, likely from a dressmaker in Edinburgh, as the workmanship is exquisite.
Thank you once again to the National Library of Scotland for supporting our project and helping us give a safe and secure home to one of the treasures of our collection. Protecting our historic textiles will allow stories like Sophy’s – pretty young wife turned strong, resourceful, intelligent estate manager – to live on for generations to come.
Sophy's Bodice in it's new box
The Sophy & White Project was made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Scotland. Find out more about the project here: The Sophy & White Project | dunollie
If you too would like to support out conservation efforts, you are welcome to email us on info@dunollie.org to find out more about our most urgent needs and ongoing projects or simply leave us a donation through our website: Donations | dunollie
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