MHG17632 - Cromarty Castle
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (2)
- MOTTE (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 561 AD to 1900 AD)
- TOWER HOUSE (Undated)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
The sheriffdom of Cromarty first appears on record in 13th century; in 1470 Urquharts, hereditary sheriffs since mid-14th century, were granted royal permission to build a tower or fortalice on motte of Cromarty and to equip it with suitable defences. Judging from the evidence of later architectural drawings and descriptions, the stone castle that was erected in later 15th century appears to have been a very substantial L-plan tower, bigger and more sophisticated than any surviving late medieval structure in this area. An extensive range of domestic buildings was added in 1632 by father of the great Sir Thomas Urquhart, but proposals to rehabilitate castle as a barracks after 1745 Rebellion came to nothing and castle was demolished 1772 during construction of Cromarty House.
H Miller 1887; W Macfarlane 1900; W M Mackenzie 1922; 1948; RCAHMS 1979; G Stell 1986.
Location cited as NH 787 675; classified as motte.
P A Yeoman 1988.
Demolished 1772
Sources/Archives (9)
- --- SHG1131 Text/Publication/Article: Yeoman, P A. 1988. 'Mottes in Northeast Scotland', Scot Archaeol Rev Vol. 5 1988, p.125-33. Scot Archaeol Rev. 125-33. 131, no. 63.
- --- SHG1306 Text/Publication/Article: Mackenzie, W M. 1950. 'Old Cromarty Castle', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 82 1947-8, p.60-8. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 60-8. 60-8; plans.
- --- SHG2440 Text/Publication/Volume: Clark, J T (ed.). 1900. Genealogical collections concerning families of Scotland. Vol. 2, 375.
- --- SHG2468 Text/Publication/Volume: Mackenzie, W M. 1922. The old sherriffdom of Cromarty.
- --- SHG2518 Text/Publication/Volume: Miller, H. 1889. Scenes and legends of the north of Scotland: or the traditional history of Cromarty. 2nd ed.. 129-35.
- --- SHG2568 Text/Publication/Volume: National Monuments Record of Scotland. n.d.. National Monuments Record of Scotland survey of private collections. Inventory to Craigston Castle plans-P11.
- --- SHG2675 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1979. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of the Black Isle, Ross and Cromarty District, Highland Region. . 21, No. 129.
- --- SHG2811 Text/Publication/Volume: Slade, H G. 1993. Old Cromarty Castle.
- --- SHG3139 Text/Publication/Article: Stell, G. 1986. Architecture and society in Easter Ross before 1707. SHG1943. 99-132. 103.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 7924 6711 (60m by 60m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH76NE |
| Geographical Area | ROSS AND CROMARTY |
| Civil Parish | CROMARTY |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/14439 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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