MHG421 - Halberry Castle
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (2)
- PROMONTORY FORT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1058 AD to 1900 AD)
- (Alternate Type) CASTLE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1058 AD to 1900 AD)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
Halberry Castle (NR) (remains of) OS 6" map, (1971)
The foundation of a rectangular keep, 44 by 28ft, which is said to have belonged to Crowner Gunn in C15th. The promontory on which it stood has been crossed at neck by a rock-cut ditch about 25ft wide.
RCAHMS 1911.
Halberry Castle is turf-covered footings of a tower, 19 by 6 by 0.6m high, defended on landward side by a deep ditch spanned by a causeway. The ditch appears to have been mutilated by quarrying at its NW end. From a point 4m NW of tower, there is a low turf-covered wall running N across the promontory forming a second line of defence, the gap between the wall and tower being the entrance.
Between tower and ditch are the vague footings of a rectangular building, 8 by 4.5m, which is probably contemporary with tower. Name but not date verified.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (N K B) 11 May 1967.
Sources/Archives (4)
- --- SHG11419 Image/Photograph(s): Promontory Fort, Halberry Head.. Colour Slide. .
- --- SHG1958 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Batey, C E. 1984. Caithness Coastal Survey 1980-82: Dunnet Head to Ousdale. University of Durham, Department of Archaeology. 30/01/1984. Digital (scanned as PDF). LAT 225.
- --- SHG2664 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. . 84-5, No. 306.
- --- SHG2966 Text/Publication/Article: Miller, D B. 1975. 'Historical castles and families of the north. 2. Castle Gunn and Halberry- The Gunns', Caithness Fld Club Bulletin Vol. 1 Oct 1975, p.76-8. Caithness Fld Club Bulletin. 76-8. 76-8.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 3014 3773 (201m by 134m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND33NW |
| Civil Parish | LATHERON |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8945 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
Comments and Feedback
Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.