At the side of General Wade's road from Crieff to his new bridge (built in 1733) over the River Tay, just where the road entered Aberfeldy, stood Adam Menzies's Inn of Tigh-na-Leacain (pronounced "Tie-na-Leckin"). When Prince Charles raised the standard for his father in 1745, Adam answered the call, and marched off, leaving the Inn in the care of his wife.

One day, Mrs. Menzies was standing in the doorway, when a party of King George's "Redcoats" came marching by. One of the officers stopped and asked for refreshment, and she gave him a glass of milk, for which she refused payment. Her neighbours berated her for aiding the enemy whom her husband was fighting, but she replied that it was an act of kindness, and one day her husband might be in greater need of help.

Later she learned that the rising had failed, and her husband had been taken prisoner, and was being held in Carlisle. She locked the Inn, put the key in her pocket, and set off for Carlisle, over 150 miles distant, on foot. When she arrived, she was denied access, and she sat down outside the prison, weary, and wondering what to do, when along came the same officer to whom she had given a drink. He recognised her, listened to her tale of woe, and interceded on her husband's behalf, so that eventually the two were able to return home to Tigh-na-Leacain.

When the house was being demolished, my grandfather (Donald MacCallum, 1862-1947) salvaged the key, which weighs 5 ounces, or 165 grams. It is in two parts, and I suppose this is because a whole key of that weight would be too cumbersome in the pocket, though it has also been suggested that the inner part of the key was sometimes left in the lock, and only the handle withdrawn. This would not be very secure, but perhaps it was sufficient in an 18th century village where everyone knew each other.

My grandfather and, in turn, my father, used to tell this story, but although there were, and still are, Menzies in Aberfeldy, as far as I know, none are descended from this Adam Menzies and his wife; it is sad that her personal name has not survived as part of the story, considering that it is really about her, and not Adam.

Story by Donald MacCallum