The Dunollie loom began its life as a pattern design loom at Meadow Mill in Alva around 1853 as part of James Porteous & Co. Ltd.

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The loom arrived in Balvicar, Seil from Alva in 1940 for Miss Jean MacKenzie, a 73 year old woman who had learnt to weave during World War II.

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By 1954, Miss MacKenzie sold the loom to Miss Hope MacDougall for £10.

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Hope set up the loom in the downstairs of the 1745 House upon her return to Dunollie the same year.

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Hope's desire was to weave tartan on the loom, and therefore added an extra two foot pedals as well as two pairs of Heddle Horses to the structure.

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In 1956, she wove 17 and 1/2  yards of MacDougall Tartan, based on a diagram of an old specimen at Dunollie.

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