MHG8493 - Ballone Castle
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- CASTLE (Medieval - 1058 AD to 1559 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
Now includes listed building refs previously stored under NH98SW0054
JW 12/1/01
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Exclusion from schedule - Ballone Castle. Letter received from HS 31/10.03. See Assoc. Docs. File.
J Aitken : 15/3/04
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NMRS Notes:
NH98SW 1 9288 8373.
Ballone Castle (NR) OS 6" map, (1959)
This castle, built Z-plan in late 16th century (Tranter 1962-70), presumably by Dunbars who held property from 1507 to beginning of 17th century, was acquired by MacKenzies 1623 and was occupied until at least 1693 (Fraser 1876), but was ruinous by mid-18th century (Macfarlane 1906-8).
It has been a very fine example of its kind consisting of a main block, lying N-S and rising to three storeys and a garret, with one square and one round corner tower. Two slender stair turrets occupy re-entrant angles and there are corner turrets at other angles. To N, contemporary vaulted outbuildings, including a bake-house and other offices, were probably built against a wall which enclosed a small courtyard between castle and perpendicular rocks above sea. The castle is first mentioned in early 1600's as "the fortalicium" of Easter Tarbat (Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1984) for which property 'Ballone' appears to have been an alternative name (Fraser 1876). On creation of Earldom of Cromartie in 1703, first earl, formerly Sir George MacKenzie, took 'Castlehaven' (from NH98NW 5) as one of his subsidiary titles and transferred that name to castle. It appears to have been known as 'Castlehaven' for remainder of 18th century (OSA 1793), but by 1872 locally accepted name appears to have been Ballone Castle (ONB 1872; MacGibbon and Ross 1887-92).
OSA 1793; Name Book 1872; W Fraser 1876; D MacGibbon and T Ross
1887-92; W Macfarlane 1906-8; N Tranter 1962-70; Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1984.
Ballone Castle, as described and illustrated, still stands two storeys high. There are traces of what may have been a curtain wall extending SW from NW corner of castle, and also along cliff-top to SE.
Visited by OS (A A) 19 September 1972.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: NMRS LIBRARY
Scottish Field, October 1951, p.49 "Balone Castle"-letter to editor
Sources/Archives (17)
- --- SHG2053 Text/Publication/Volume: Close-Brooks, J. 1986. Exploring Scotland's Heritage: The Highlands. 92-3, No. 38; plan, illust..
- --- SHG2228 Text/Publication/Volume: Fraser, W. 1876. The Earls of Cromartie: their kindred, country and correspondence. Vol. 1, lxiv, cciv; Vol. 2, 426-9.
- --- SHG24257 Image/Photograph(s): Highland Council Archaeology Unit. HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 6. Colour slide. . Digital (scanned). 121.
- --- SHG24258 Image/Photograph(s): Highland Council Archaeology Unit. HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 7. Colour slide. . Digital (scanned). 144.
- --- SHG24259 Image/Photograph(s): Highland Council Archaeology Unit. HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 8. Colour slide. . Digital (scanned). 154.
- --- SHG2441 Text/Publication/Volume: Mitchell, Sir A and Clark, J T (eds.). 1906-8. Geographical collections relating to Scotland. Vol. 1, 215.
- --- 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. 2, 248-51; plan, illust..
- --- SHG2606 Text/Publication/Volume: Sir John Sinclair (ed.). 1791-9. The statistical account of Scotland, drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes. Vol. 6, 426-7.
- --- SHG2670 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1979. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty District, Highland Region. . 29, No. 250.
- --- SHG2687 Text/Publication/Volume: Thomson, J M (ed.). 1984. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, AD 1608-1620. Volume 7. No. 283.
- --- SHG2893 Text/Publication/Volume: Tranter, N. 1962-70. The fortified house in Scotland. Vol. 5, 147-8.
- --- SHG3139 Text/Publication/Article: Stell, G. 1986. Architecture and society in Easter Ross before 1707. SHG1943. 99-132. 112, 115; figs. 8.10, 12.4.
- --- SHG3362 Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 30, 44.
- --- SHG3451 Text/Publication/Serial: Edinburgh Architectural Association. 1879. Sketch Book, Vol 2.
- --- SHG6993 Image/Photograph(s): Ballone Castle, Coat of Arms above Archway. Digital Image. .
- --- SHG7435 Image/Photograph(s): Ballone Castle, gen. view. Digital Image. .
- --- SHG8508 Image/Photograph(s): Ballone Castle, view from north. Digital Image. .
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 9288 8373 (98m by 72m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH98SW |
| Geographical Area | ROSS AND CROMARTY |
| Civil Parish | TARBAT |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB14104 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/15632 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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