John Brown’s bagpipes
Photograph of John Brown’s bagpipes in the College of Piping on Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Courtesy of Mr George Brown
John Brown emigrated to Canada and settled in Ottawa where he worked as a receptionist on Parliament Hill. He owned a set of bagpipes that were reputed to have been played at the battle of Culloden in 1746, on which he would often play ‘Health to the MacDonalds’ Return’. Back in Tiree, there was a tradition in his family that the Browns had been given their piping skills by the fairies.
He played the bagpipes for the visit to Ottawa of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and the prince shook his hand. His grandson remembers ‘he was so pleased that forever after he would only extend his left hand to lesser folk.’
John Brown died in 1889 aged ninety. The bagpipes are now on display at the College of Piping, Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Photocopy of article in unknown Ottawa newspaper 14/6/1952 about the battle of Culloden.
History of the bagpipes reputed to have played at Culloden with a photograph of the pipes and of H. C Nolan, the present owner and grandson of John Brown from Tiree.
Photocopy of typed pages about a set of bagpipes reputed to have been played on Culloden field.
Legend of the bagpipes reputedly played at Culloden,how they came into the possession of John Brown from Tiree whose ancestor, according to legend, learned to play the pipes by magic.
Photocopy of article in the Ottawa Evening Journal about the late John Brown.
Photograph and paragraph about John Brown, owner of the `Pipes of Culloden` and whose family, according to legend, was given knowledge of bagpipe playing by magic.
Photocopy of letter written by John Brown of Tiree.
History of the bagpipes reputed to have been played at Culloden and how John Brown came into their possession.
