House of Gask
Probably the dwelling most associated with the Oliphant Clan (from the 17th Century onwards) is the house of Gask. This was the home of the staunch Jacobite branch of the Clan. Although the land was in the hands of the Oliphant Clan from the mid 14th century, no Castle of note was built there. The house of Gask became home to William Oliphant of Newton (son of Colin, Master of Oliphant, and brother to the 3rd Lord) from whom descends the Gask branch of the Clan. After him came a succession of Laurence Oliphants, who were the Lairds of Gask and chieftains of the Gask Oliphants. The house was held until Culloden, after which a volunteer party of English soldiers, under Ensign Fawlie, plundered the house. Laurence Oliphant of Gask and his son were both involved in the battle (in the Duke of Perth's Horse,) so were both forced to flee thereafter to France. After a period of time, Ebenezer Oliphant of the Gask branch, and the then Oliphant of Condie (and others,) reinstated Laurence at Gask.
Here was born Carolina Oliphant, (later known as Lady Nairn,) the famous Scottish Poetess. She was a masterful writer of poetry, including a lament for the loss of the house of Gask called "The Auld Hoose".
The Auld House
O! the auld hoose, the auld hoose,
What tho' the rooms were wee,
O, kind hearts were dwelling there,
And bairnies fo' O' glee.
And wild rose and the jassamine
Still hang upon the wa
Hoo mony cherished memories
Do they sweet flow'rs reca'.
O, the auld Laird, the auld Laird
Sae canty, kind and crouse.
Hoo mony did he welcome there,
His ain wee dear auld hoose.
And the leddy, too, sae genty,
There shelter'd Scotland's heir,
An' clipt a lock wi' her ain han'
Frae his long yellow hair.
The mavis still doth sweetly sing,
The bluebells sweetly blaw.
The bonnie Earn's clear winding still,
But the auld hoose is awa'.
The auld hoose, the auld hoose
Deserted tho' ye be,
There ne'er can be a new hoose,
Will seem sae fair to me.
Still flourishing the auld pear tree
The bairnies liked to see.
And oh, hoo often did they spier
When ripe thay a' wad be?
The voices sweet, the wee bit feet
Aye rinnin' here and there.
The merry shouts oh, whiles we greet
To think we'll hear nae mair.
The current chieftain of the Gask branch is Laurence Philip Kington Blair Oliphant (see Links). He is situated at Ardblair Castle, which is now considered by most the seat of the Oliphant's of Gask, as it contains the majority of the Gask Oliphant artifacts.
The present house at Gask is a beautiful Georgian building with wings branching off each end and a spectacular pedimented front. Unfortunately its beauty has been damaged slightly by the fact that since being sold it has had the top floor removed. Nevertheless, it is still the 'jewel' in the Oliphant 'crown'.