Touchwood Memories

10/05/2026

Remembering Susan on her birthday. ✨️

03/05/2026

A few photographs from this year's Beltane celebrations.

02/05/2026

The Coven met last night to celebrate Beltane and as always, remember Susan.

01/05/2026

Wishing you all a most Blessed Beltane 🌿

O May Queen and your Jack in the Green,
Come with colour, paint the scene;
Leaves unfurl and blossoms bloom
Life spring forth o' Earth Mother's womb!

22/04/2026

Susan's legacy lives on.

At her request, the Touchwood Coven continues to meet regularly. Honouring both Susan and her beliefs.

Blessed Be.

26/03/2026

Did you know Touchwood House had a little baby brother called Wychway? Another magical house that was transformed by Susan.

23/03/2026

A brief history of Touchwood House.

The house was commissioned by Jane Houston Reed in the 1880s. In 1889, at the age of 69, she and her four servants moved in and remained there until her death at 83. Her daughter then inherited the property, and thereafter throughout its history (aside from a short period), the house has either been owned or run by Women.

Jane came from a landed family and married Ellerington Reed in 1845. Ellerington was part of a
wealthy sheep farming family and owned a large amount of land at Kilcalmkill in Clyne parish on the north east of Loch Brora, where he farmed sheep and cattle. The Kilcalmkill estate belonged for three centuries to the Gordons of Carrol. It was recorded that Mr Reed (Elrington's father -Gabriel) "was the first sassenach who brought the cheviot to Sutherland" from Reed Water on the south side of the Cheviot hills.

Following Ellerington's death, she commissioned architect William Curruthers with building two houses in Inverness. Jane moved into "Carrol" (Touchwood), and her daughter and her family, Mary Thomisina Houston Reed Buckley, moved into the house next door, called "Rossal". "Carrol" was named after a hill near Brora, and "Rossall" was named after a hill near the river Naver.

Following Jane's death in 1903, both houses were put up for sale, and "Carrol" was rented out first to James Bowers and then to a Leut. Col. MacDonald until around 1912.

In 1912, the house was sold to a Mrs. Knowles, and she remained there until around 1929/30. A newspaper advert of the time shows Mrs Knowles looking for a "cook (very good and plain) wanted for one lady".

In 1930, the house was sold to Miss McLennan for the price of £4000 at auction in Aberdeen and was used as a nursing home until 1958.

From 1958 until 1981 it became the Carrol Children's Home.
By 1986, the property was listed as a guest house owned by Captain Alex Gibson, and he remained there until Susan Macalister Hall bought the property in 1989 and renamed it Touchwood House.

When Susan bought the property, it was in poor condition, and she went about restoring this beautiful building into what we see today.

18/03/2026

Touchwood House for sale.

A handsome, B listed, Arts and Crafts house in a highly sought-after residential area of Inverness. The property is in an exceptional setting within the Riverside Conservation Area, totally secluded and lying just across the road from the River Ness.

04/03/2026

Archive photographs of Touchwood House. ✨

01/05/2025

Beltane Blessings to all. 🔥🌿