MHG667 - Forse Castle
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- CASTLE (Medieval - 1058 AD to 1559 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
Site photographed by Pat & Lawrence Message, 3/2002. The Highland Archaeology Challenge - see Assoc. Docs. File for plan.
J Aiktne : 22/1/2004
ND23SW 1 2240 3382.
Forse Castle (NR) OS 6" map, (1959)
Forse Castle stands on a steep-sided rocky peninsula, protected on N by a natural ditch formerly crossed by a drawbridge. The gateway to the castle is protected by the keep on the W and a gatehouse on the E. The keep measures internally 21 by 11.5ft, with walls 7ft thick, standing up to 30ft in height. The triangular courtyard has ranges of buildings on the E and W sides. The castle probably dates from the 14th or early 15th century.
RCAHMS 1911; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92.
Forse Castle, generally as described. Walling which may have encompassed the peninsula is evident on the E side.
Surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (R L) 14 March 1968.
The keep is still upstanding but has a large crack down the landward face, and there is also some undermining of the wall.
C E Batey 1982.
Sources/Archives (6)
- --- SHG1960 Text/Report: Batey, C E. 1982. Caithness coastal survey 1982: interim reports 1980-2. . No. 248.
- --- SHG2442 Text/Publication/Volume: MacGibbon, D. and Ross, T.. 1887-92. The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Hardback. Vol 4, 299; plan.
- --- 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. . 48-9, No. 185.
- --- SHG3936 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4017 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG901 Text/Publication/Article: Miller, D B. 1977. 'Historic castles and families of the north. 6. Forse Castle- The Sutherlands of Forse', Caithness Fld Club Bulletin Vol. 2 Oct 1977, p.53-7. Caithness Fld Club Bulletin. 53-7. 53-7.
Map
Location
Grid reference | Centred ND 2240 3381 (300m by 300m) (2 map features) |
---|---|
Map sheet | ND23SW |
Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM621 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8640 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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