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Post by dreamy on Jun 10, 2005 21:13:52 GMT 10
I'm starting this thread as a place we all could post information about and pictures of Scottish Castles; I thought it would be interesting for all who are planning a trip to Scotland one day. Besides of that each one of them has its own place in culture and history. Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness (pronounced "urkurt") Castle Urquhart stands on a rocky promontary on the north shore of Loch Ness. As soon as you get here you cant help thinking, "Well, if I were going to build a castle to survey this wide glen, and the loch itself, this is where I'd build it!" In fact people were almost certainly here at least 4000 years ago. At nearby Corrimony is a burial cairn dating from about 2000 BC. However, although some evidence has been found of a fort on this promontory dating from the Iron Age, and also remains from Pictish times, earliest written records for the existence of a castle date from the 1200's. Loch Ness cuts a great divide along what is called Glen Mor, or The Great Glen, a 60 mile fissure scoured by glaciers during the last ice age. The Loch itself is over 700 feet deep, and the nearby surrounding hills rise by about the same amount. At the north east end, where the waters of the loch flow along the River Ness through Inverness and into the North Sea, is the flatter and more fertile land of Moray. Around the middle of the first millenium AD St Columba travelled fom dalraida in Argyll on the West coast of scotland, and converted Emchath, a Pictish nobleman living in Glen Urquhart sometime before 597. In 1228 the people of Moray rose up against the authority of King Alexander II (1198 - 1249). By 1230 he had put down the revolt and, as conquerors often do, established his own loyal men in charge of estates in the area. He granted his son-in-law Alan Durward the lordship of Urquhart, and it is almost certain that the earliest parts of medieval castle date from his time. After his death in 1275 the castle passed to John Comyn, appointed by Edward I of England. After a series of humiliating defeats John Balliol (1250 - 1296) had relinquished his kingship, and much of Scotland and many of its castles, including Urquhart, were under English control. This was the time the Stone of Destiny was taken from Scone to London, (it's now back in Scotland) and also the time that William Wallace began his campaign against English rule when he killed an English sheriff at Lanark. In 1297 Andrew Moray of Moray led a night-time attack on the castle which failed, but sometime later Sir Alexander Forbes retook it for Scotland. But that wasn't the end of it; in 1303 Edward again took the castle, but his garrison under Alexander Comyn of Badenoch was soon annihilated by Robert the Bruce who was to be crowned King of Scotland in 1306. By 1346 ownership of the castle passed from the Earls of Moray back to the Scottish Crown again, and it seems likely that with Crown money much substantial building and repair was completed at this time. Throughout the end of the 1300's and well into the 1400's Castle Urquhart fell again and again to Clan MacDonald, Lords of the Isles only to be retaken again and again by the Crown. The only consequence was the suffering and devastation of the ordinary people living in the Great Glen. Eventually the MacDonald's power was temporarily curbed in this area and for about 35 years the Grants of Freuchie looked after the castle on behalf of the Gordons of Huntly. But soon the MacDonalds were back; in the 1500's they besieged it twice, again leaving the ordinary local inhabitants of the Glen dead and devastated. By the 1600's the castle was abandoned by the Grants to the people of the Glen. Those walls which had for so long been a cause of suffering to them, now became their comfort as they dismantled masonry and removed stones to build their own houses. Finally, in 1689 when the last Stewart King, James II of England and VII of Scotland, was exiled, one Captain Grant and 300 Highlanders saw off a force of James's supporters. The garrison left the ruins in 1692. The castle was not repaired, and about 25 years later it was reported that a "Storme of Wind had blown down the south west side of the main tower house. The castle is open to the public, under the control of Historic Scotland. A view of Loch Ness, looking North:
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Elly
Administrator
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Post by Elly on Jun 10, 2005 22:21:02 GMT 10
Thanks Dreamy, it`s wonderful info and pics ;D
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Post by dreamy on Jun 11, 2005 0:19:48 GMT 10
Thank you, Elly! Dunnator Castle Dunnottar Castle is located less than two miles south of Stonehaven (15 miles from Aberdeen) on the east coast of Scotland. Dunnottar Castle is a dramatic and evocative ruin. As you wander around the extensive buildings you are almost surrounded by sea with gulls and other seabirds wheeling and screaming around the cliffs below you. If the outline is a little familiar, this may be because Dunnottar Castle was the location for the 1990 film version of Hamlet starring Mel Gibson. Even if there was no castle at Dunnottar, the site would immediately catch the eye - an enormous flat-topped rock with sheer cliffs on three sides. This site was chosen in Pictish times as place of strength and by Saint Ninian as a place of retreat. Dunnottar is more than a topographical curiosity since this rock and the buildings on it have reflected in miniature much of the rich and tragic story of Scottish history. William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots and the Marquis of Montrose have all graced the Castle with their presence. Most famously though, it was at Dunnottar Castle that a small garrison held out against the might of Cromwell's army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels, the 'Honours of Scotland', from destruction. From the car park the dominant building viewed is the 14th century Keep or Tower House, a little battered by Cromwell's cannons, but still intact. This is just one of the eleven different buildings which comprise Dunnottar Castle which also includes barracks, lodgings, stables and storehouses. At the far end of the rock, in sharp contrast to the old tower, is an elegant quadrangle. This is bounded on three sides by domestic buildings of the 17th century, including, for its time, one of the largest ballrooms in Scotland extending to some 35 metres. The fourth side is formed by the Castle's 13th century chapel - a relic of the time that William Wallace burnt the early wooden Castle with the occupying English garrison inside. The chapel, one of the very few stone buildings, has survived to tell the tale. Dunnottar Castle was the home of the Earls Marischal of Scotland, once one of the most powerful families in the land. The Earl Marischal oversaw all ceremonial activities in the Scottish Court, including the coronations. He was also responsible for the security of the Scottish Crown Jewels, known as the 'Honours of Scotland'. The story of how a small garrison in Dunnottar Castle saved the Honours of Scotland from certain destruction is one of the most captivating in Scottish history. Charles I, King of both Scotland and England, was executed in 1649 by Oliver Cromwell. The following year his son (later Charles II) arrived in north east Scotland in a bid to retake the two kingdoms and on his journey south he stayed overnight at Dunnottar Castle. However, in England, Oliver Cromwell was so enraged at the young King's arrival he invaded Scotland. In some haste therefore, Charles II was crowned at Scone, but the crown and the other coronation regalia could not be returned to Edinburgh Castle which had now been taken by Cromwell's army. The English crown jewels had already been destroyed by Cromwell and the Honours of Scotland, the most potent remaining icon of the monarchy, were next on his list. His army was fast advancing on Scone and the King ordered the Earl Marischal to secure the Honours and many of his personal papers at Dunnottar Castle. It was not long before Dunnottar was under siege and a scratch garrison of 70 men held out for eight months against the invading forces. Its unique position made the Castle impregnable to infantry attack, but when the heavy cannons finally arrived and began to raze the major buildings, the situation became untenable. Before surrender was contemplated, however, the King's papers were taken through the besieging forces by a brave young lady acquaintance of the Governor who secured them around her waist. The crown, sceptre and sword meanwhile, had been lowered over the seaward side of the Castle and received by a serving woman, there on pretence of gathering seaweed. They were thereafter taken to the church at Kinneff, a village several miles to the south where at first they were hidden at the bottom of the bed in the minister's house until he could bury them more securely in the kirk. There they remained undiscovered for eleven years. A darker chapter in the history of Dunnottar is that of the 'Whig's Vault'. Visitors can still see the gloomy, airless cellar where in 1685 a body of Covenanting prisoners, 122 men and 45 women, were held without food or sanitation from 24 May to the end of July. Their crime was that they had refused to acknowledge the King's supremacy in spiritual matters. Twenty brave souls attempted to escape, fifteen of whom were recaptured and tortured. The remainder were eventually transported to the West Indies. The Castle never recovered from Cromwell's attentions and although it was later a garrison for troops, it no longer had its former glory. The last Earl Marischal was convicted of treason for his part in the Jacobite rising of 1715 and his estates, including Dunnottar Castle, were seized by the government. The buildings were thereafter neglected until 1925 when the 1st Viscountess Cowdray embarked on a systematic repair of the Castle. It has remained in private family ownership ever since. www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/chatelaine/dunnottar1.jpg
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Post by dreamy on Jun 11, 2005 2:20:48 GMT 10
KILCHURN CASTLE (Pronounced; KillHERN) Kilchurn is the original castle of the Glenurchy and Breadalbane Campbells. The castle stands upon a low plateau of rock at the end of a level spit of marshy land which intrudes into the northeastern end of Lochawe. On the northwest side of the spit, the River Orchy enters the loch. The water level of the loch was originally higher, flooding the spit and forming an island upon which the castle stood. The plan of the castle is roughly rectangular with the width running southwest to northeast and with the southern corner cut of on a diagonal. The earliest surviving part is the keep or Tower House, the main part of which was built between 1440 and 1460 when the plateau was probably enclosed with a barmkin wall of which only the southern diagonal portion remains. The tower stands in the eastern corner of the courtyard. The entrance was through the vaulted ground floor of the tower. Above was the Great Hall which had a wooden ceiling which would not have been as ornate as the later ceilings at Carnassarie. Above the hall were two more stories of rooms and a garret which gave onto a parapet walk. Towards the turn of the 15th to 16th centuries a Laich Hall or large dining hall was built along the inside of the south diagonal wall of the courtyard with one end near the tower, no doubt because the Hall in the tower was too small for the retainers and guests of the family. About a century later a second storey was added to this hall. However, little now remains of the Laich Hall. During the third quarter of the sixteenth century the tower parapet and roof-house were remodeled and circular corner turrets added. A further addition was made to the north side of the tower, evidently private chambers, but of this later work nothing identifiable remains. In 1616 the newly heightened Laich Hall was joined to the Tower House by a new range containing two vaulted cellars over which were a chapel and attic. The final phase of construction was carried out by the first Earl of Breadalbane. Round towers were added to the north, south and west corners of the heightened barmkin wall and a range of barracks built along the northwest side and linked to the tower by an angle at the northeastern end. A new stair tower was added to provide more gracious access to the southwest side of the Tower House. The castle seems to have been little used after it was garrisoned in the 1745 Jacobite rising. Evidently the tower was struck with lightening in the early 1770s after which no repairs were carried out to the roof and the fabric rapidly deteriorated. Some masonry repairs were crudely done after 1887 but these unfortunately destroyed or obliterated some original features. The masonry of the whole structure was re-pointed in recent years. The lands of Glenorchy were originally in the hands of the MacGregors of Glenstrae and passed to the Campbells by marriage in the 14th century. Sir Duncan Campbell, the future Lord Campbell, granted the Lordship of Glenorchy to his younger son Colin in 1432. Colin of Glenorchy's father-in-law, John Stewart Lord of Lorne, signed a charter in 1449 `apud castrum de Glenurquhay' (at the castle of Glenorchy) so that by that date some form of castle had been built on the site, possibly in the form of the Tower House and barmkin. Sir Colin's son, Sir Duncan, added the Laich Hall and his grandson, another Sir Colin (1550-1583), who had succeeded two elder brothers and so was 6th of Glenorchy, built four angle turrets and the north wing to the Tower House. The 3rd and 4th Lairds had died in the castle in 1523 and 1536, so it is clear that Kilchurn was the principal home of the Campbells of Glenorchy for about an hundred years. Then, in the second half of the 16th century, the family increasingly lived at Fincharn on their Perthshire estates. Until Sir Duncan's violent feud with the MacGregors of Glenstrae in the first decade of the 17th century, there was a line of MacGregors appointed as Keepers of Kilchurn. Sir Duncan, who succeeded on his father's death in 1583, was made a Baronet in 1625 and died in 1631, having made fairly extensive improvements to the castle. Besides building several other tower houses from Barcaldine to Balloch (now Taymouth), Sir Duncan `of the seven castles' put a second floor onto the Laich Hall at Kilchurn and joined it to the tower with a further range which included the chapel and stair to the courtyard. The castle was briefly besieged in 1654 and was garrisoned by Sir John of Glenorchy, 1st Earl of Breadalbane, in support of the government action against the 9th Earl of Argyll's invasion of 1685. The barracks on the north side of the courtyard were added in the 1690s and used in 1708, 1715 and 1745. The Campbell knights of Glenorchy who later became Earls and then Marquises of Breadalbane, expanded their estates eastwards into Strathtay, becoming for a time almost as powerful as the Earls and Dukes of Argyll. But towards the end of the 19th century a decline set in through gambling and poor management which has resulted in the loss of all the lands and the destitution of the family. Kilchurn was the last to go, sold in the 1980s to a romantic consortium after 500 years. In recent years teak stairs have been installed to allow access to the upper levels of the tower, greatly increasing the interest of a visit and the range of views up Glenstrae and Glenorchy and across the loch to Cruachan. Kilchurn is in the care of the Department of the Environment and is open to the public in summer. www.ccsna.org/castles/kilchurn.html
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Post by andi on Jun 11, 2005 23:53:41 GMT 10
DOUNE CASTLEDoune Castle was built around the end of the 14th century by Robert Stewart, the first duke of Albany. Situated approximately 8 miles NW of Stirling, Doune occupied a strategic location on the edge of the lowland and highland areas of Scotland. Siezed by James I in 1425, Doune became a royal castle and over the next century was used as a retreat by kings James I, II, III and IV. It was also used as a dower house for three different queens of Scots, Mary in June of 1449; Margaret of Denmark in July of 1469 and Margaret Tudor in 1503. In 1527 the stewardship of Doune was given to Sir James Stewart. His son James was created a lord of Parliament in 1570 with the title of Lord Doune. He was succeded by his eldest son, also called James Stewart, who became the second Lord Doune. He married Lady Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of the first Earl of Moray and became the second Earl of Moray. Doune has been under control of the Earls of Moray ever since. In the Jacobite uprising of 1745, Doune was seized by the rebels under Bonnie Prince Charlie. The fourteenth earl began restoration of the castle in 1883. Further repairs were done in the 1970s. In 1984 the twentieth earl placed the castle in care of the state. Monty Python fans may recognize Doune as having a prominent role in the movie, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Doune Castle is located east of the village centre, at Castle Hill. 8 miles north-west of Stirling on the A84-A820. The site is owned by Historic Scotland and is open daily, April to September 9:30-6:30pm. October to March Monday to Wednesday and Saturday 9:30-4:30pm, Sunday 2:00-4:30pm, Thursday 9:30-12:00 noon. There is a car park. www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/57/dounecastle.htmwww.darkisle.com/d/doune/douneh.html
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Post by andi on Jun 12, 2005 1:12:55 GMT 10
Stirling CastleThe writer Alexander Smith was accurate when he said "Stirling, like a huge brooch, clasps Highlands and Lowlands together." It was natural that the lowest crossing place of the river Forth, which was also reachable by boat from the sea and with a natural volcanic outcrop on which to build a fortification, should be the place where the monarch would construct a royal castle. There may have been earlier forts but it was King Alexander I in early 12th century who built a chapel there and he probably died at Stirling in 1124. Later, Stirling was one of five Scottish castles passed over to Henry II of England in payment for the release of William the Lion. Although it was later returned to Scotland, King Edward I took over all the Scottish royal castles in 1291. Temporarily captured by William Wallace after the Battle of Stirling Bridge it returned to English hands. By 1313 Stirling was one of only three castles held by Edward II and it was when attempting to relieve the castle that Edward was defeated by Robert the Bruce at nearby Bannockburn in 1314. The castle was the backdrop to the murder of William, 8th Earl of Douglas by King James II. The castle was greatly expanded by Kings James IV and V - it is James V we have to thank for the Great Hall which has recently been restored to its former glory and for the building known as the Palace. The renovation of the Great Hall has returned it to its original colour - an arresting yellow, described by restorers as "King's Gold". The new harling and limewash was determined by careful research and it is how that part of the castle would have appeared in the 16th century when it was built by James IV. The renovation work is part of a 20 million pound project at the castle. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in Stirling Castle in 1543 and her son, James VI was christened in the nearby parish church. James VI spent a lot of time at Stirling Castle and his first son, Prince Henry, was born there. But after the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the next royal visit was by King Charles II in 1650. The need for a fortified castle receded and the castle deteriorated. It was only in 1906 (after the personal intervention of Edward VII) that it was brought back to a proper state of repair. It was used as an army barracks until 1964 (remember the film "Tunes of Glory" shot at Stirling?). Now owned by Historic Scotland, Stirling is second only to Edinburgh Castle in the number of visitors each year. There is a lot to see in the castle and there is a good visitor centre and restaurant. The entrance to the castle is on the from the south-east, where the alluvial tail left after the ice age, had left a more gradual approach to the rock. From the outer defences in front of the castle, the "forework", this entrance passes through to the "Outer Close". The building at the far end at one time formed the kitchens for the garrison - and now part of it houses the visitors' restaurant. Beneath the castle and the Queen's Hole, an area for the ladies to sit out and enjoy the view, is the "King's Knot", which was a grand formal garden. Only the outline of the King's Knot and an adjoining parterre (an area of flower beds and pathways) remain. In the afternoon and evening the area would enjoy the sunshine. On the other side of the castle is the "Grand Battery" with around half-a-dozen cannon (with accompanying cannon balls - carefully contained in a cage in case a tourist decides they want a souvenir). The cannon face to the north, across the River Forth at Stirling Bridge, towards the Wallace National Monument on Abbey Craig, in the distance. photos, information www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/properties_sites_detail.htm?propertyID=PL_275www.darkisle.com/s/stirling/stirling.htmlwww.rampantscotland.com/visit/blvisitstirling.htm
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Post by andi on Jun 13, 2005 2:56:21 GMT 10
EDINBURGH CASTLEEdinburgh Castle is visited annually by approximately one million people - if we except the Tower of London that is more people than visit any other ancient monument in the United Kingdom. Every visitor - particularly those on a restricted itinerary - should visit the Castle, not only because of the historical interest of this remarkable fortress and former royal residence, but because it offers such splendid panoramic views of the city. It is from these battlements, for example, that the traveller immediately appreciates the dramatic topography of Edinburgh, situated between sea and hills. Within the confines of the Castle, there is much to see. It was the seat (and regular refuge) of Scottish Kings, and the historical apartments include the Great Hall, which now houses an interesting collection of weapons and armour. The Royal apartments include a tiny room in which Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the boy who was to become King James VI of Scotland and James 1 of England upon the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603. The ancient Honours of Scotland - the Crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State - are on view in the Crown Room. Nearby is the Scottish National War Memorial, a building designed and created shortly after the First World War; many who enter find the experience a moving one. Edinburgh Castle is also the home of the One O'Clock Gun. This is fired every day except Sunday at precisely 1.00pm to provide everyone with an accurate check for their clocks and watches. It will certainly startle you if you are anywhere near the Castle at that moment! The Castle Esplanade is the venue of the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the annual occasion on which, over a period of three weeks in August, the Army presents a lively programme of music, marching and historical re-enactments under floodlights before large and appreciative audiences. No one is sure who first used the castle rock as a settlement, but it was long before the Romans came sailing up the Forth and landing at Cramond. The oldest building in all Edinburgh is to be found within the Castle precincts. It is St. Margaret's Chapel, a tiny Norman building which has been standing there intact for more than 900 years. It has survived all the sieges and bombardments to which the fortress on the rock was subjected during that period. On several occasions the castle was razed - but the demolishers invariably spared the chapel of the good St Margaret because of its religious significance. Today, members of the castle garrison still have the right to be married within the Chapel. Before leaving the Esplanade, look in the north-east corner for a small iron wall-fountain; it is popularly known as the Witches' Well, and it commemorates the grim fact that, centuries ago, many women held to be guilty of witchcraft were put to death at the stake on this spot. To the north, between the Castle and the Firth of Forth, the spectator has his first glimpse of Edinburgh's new town. To the east, below the Castle ramparts the visitor is recommended to take a close look at the Old Town. History of Edinburgh CastleThe great volcanic rock on which the castle stands, rears high above the modern city. There is evidence of a Bronze Age settlement about 1000BC. The Roman army came here later. It was natural that a fort should be built on such a commanding and defendable site. We know that the fort was made of stone during the reign of Malcolm III (1058 to 1093). Edward I of England, in his efforts to conquer Scotland, took Edinburgh Castle in 1296, but in 1314 the Earl of Moray took the castle back for Scotland in a daring commando raid with only 30 men The English took it back in 1335, but in 1341 Sir William Douglas again removed the invaders. He tricked the garrison into thinking his band of men were merchants, they seized the castle and decapitated most of the English garrison The castle would now remain in Scottish hands until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. Attempts to take it were unsuccessful. In 1400 Henry V of England besieged the castle but had to withdraw to deal with a rebellion in Wales by Owen Glendower 1440 Edinburgh Castle was the site of the infamous "Black Bull's Dinner" where 16 year old sixth Earl of Douglas and his 14 year old brother David were murdered in front of their 10 year old King (James II). The death of Douglas was carried out by the ambitious Chancellor Crichton and was intended to break the Douglas power. The castle was further strengthened in 1573 and held out against an attack by the Covenanters in 1640, by Cromwell in 1650 and by the army of William and Mary in 1689. It continued to be strengthened and during Jacobite rising in 1745. Bonnie Prince Charlie's lack lustre efforts to take the castle were the last time that the castle came under attack www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/tour/castle.htmlwww.historic-scotland.gov.uk/properties_sites_detail.htm?propertyID=PL_121www.scotland-calling.com/forts/edinburgh.htm
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Post by dreamy on Jun 13, 2005 3:44:15 GMT 10
Thank you andi!! Great info and beautiful pics!
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Post by andi on Jun 13, 2005 4:05:06 GMT 10
Thanks, you deserve a bit of support!
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Post by dreamy on Jun 13, 2005 4:27:28 GMT 10
Highly appreciated! Keep up the good work! ;D
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Post by andi on Jun 24, 2005 7:37:01 GMT 10
Eilean Donan Castleone of Scotland's most romantic castles The most photographed castle in the world? Certainly Eilean Donan is Scotland's most romantic and recognizable, but it is not entirely what it seems. Although the island of Eilean Donan has been a fortified site for at least eight hundred years, the present building dates largely from the early 20th century. Today's castle, which rose from the ruins of it's predecessor, was rebuilt between 1912 and 1932 by Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap. Eilean Donan is quite unique, the product of an incredible feat of determination and devotion to restore the Castle for the MacRae family. It is hard to believe that the present castle has yet to celebrate its 100 birthday, but easy to be absorbed by the atmosphere of a place which has stood witness to so much history. Over a thousand years before the medieval surveyor marked out the lines of the fortifications that we see today, the vitrified defenses of an earlier fortification encircled the small knoll on the island. Apart from some relic fragments of these early defenses beside the castle walls, the precise line of the earlier fort is buried beneath the castle. The mediaeval castle was formerly one of the most important strongholds along the western seas. It was built shortly after the Battle of Largs, when the Scandinavian Crown lost title to these shores, reputedly as a base for the heritors of the area, the Earls of Ross, to ensure that it was never again lost to the Scottish Crown. Tradition reports how, though built for the Earls of Ross, by the later 13th century his nephew, Kenneth McKenzie had, through a crushing defeat of his uncle's forces turned his residency into ownership. By the time of Kenneth's death in 1304 the Crown had settled the Barony of Kintail on Kenneth. Tradition relates that Robert the Bruce was given shelter here, but less welcome was the visit by Randolph, Earl of Moray and Warden of all Scotland in 1331. To mark the arrival of this strict disciplinarian, fifty "miscreants" were executed and their heads placed upon the walls of the castle. Greatly pleased, he claimed that the sight of Justice so displayed was sweeter to him than any garland of roses. The Earldom of Ross continued to press it's claims to the castle, and, in 1350 went so far as to seize the MacKenzie chief (another Kenneth), and execute him at Inverness. Kenneth's heir was quickly dispatched to the Western Isles until confirmed in his title to the lands by David II. By this time the clan Macrae, destined to be the MacKenzies "Coat of Mail", had settled in the district, followed shortly thereafter by the clan MacLennan. The first half of the 16th century was a difficult and dangerous time for the MacKenzies and their castle. In 1497 one hector Roy MacKenzie became Tutor (or Guardian) to John, a minor, and had to be dislodged by law after involving the family in feuding with both the Crown and other clans. In 1539 the MacKenzies joined with the MacLeods in disputing Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat's claim to the Lordship of the isles. MacDonald sailed with fifty ships to lay siege to the castle, which was occupied at the time only by the Constable, John Dubh Matheson, and a "watchman". Duncan MacRae who was passing as the fleet approached hastened to the aid of the beleaguered pair. The Constable was shot by an arrow and killed, and before long Duncan Macrae was reduced to a single arrow that he resolved to hold onto for the time being. Sensing victory, Donald Gorm MacDonald ordered up a battering ram, and, on passing close to the curtain wall, Duncan Macrae seized his chance and fired the single arrow. It embedded itself deep in the foot of the chief, who in the heat of impending victory impatiently wrenched it out. The sharp barbs severed the artery, and unable to staunch the flow of blood their chief bled to death. With the lifting of the siege Duncan harboured hopes that his action might win him the position of Constable from the grateful Chief. However, the Chief apparently thought otherwise, and in a pique Duncan left the district, after first marrying the widow of John Matheson, the former Constable of Eilean Donan. As Earls of Seaforth, the MacKenzies gave their support to the Royalist cause. After the execution of Charles I the Scottish Parliament was sufficiently concerned to impose a garrison at Eilean Donan. They treated the locals very badly, and, as winter advanced, demanded that wood be provided by them. A party of thirty, led by an officer, John Campbell, and Blytheman, his sergeant, set off to enforce their demands. On being met by a deputation of ten locals there to complain, Campbell ordered his men to open fire. No-one was hurt, but passions were inflamed . Drawing their swords the Kintail men fell upon the soldiers. A single stroke severed Campbell's head, right arm, and shoulder from the rest of his body. Blytheman was killed at a stream, and several other soldiers died as the remainder put to flight. In 1645 retribution of a sort occurred when Cromwell's Lieutenant, General Monk, arrived and plundering the district, set houses alight and killed one Duncan Macrae, an old soldier whose death "by the sword" was said to have been told by Coinneach Odhar. During the rising of 1715, Government forces were again stationed in the castle, but were dislodged by the men of Kintail. On the eve of Sherrifmuir a great dance was held on the roof before the men set out to a defeat that was to leave fifty-eight widows in the district. It was about this time that brigadier Louis Petit Des Etans was sent by the government to make a plan of castles in the West Highlands that might be used as centers of disaffection by the Highlanders. In view of what was it happen to the castle within just a few short years of his visit, the plan he made of Eilean Donan is an invaluable record of the later mediaeval works. In 1719 a foolhardy Jacobite plot was launched to recover the defeat of 1715 that was to result in the destruction of much of the castle. For two centuries it stood as a picturesque ruin, its history and it's former grandeur embellished by all who passed by. Between 1912 and 1932 it was restored by Farquhar Macrae of Auchtertyre for it's new owner , Lt. Colonel MacRae-Gilstrap. It is said the form of the reconstruction was revealed to farquhar in a dream. It is certainly remarkable that it so faithfully follows what Louis Petit's illustration records, though the latter's drawings were not discovered until long after the reconstruction was complete. places to visit more photos from different views at www.castles.org/Chatelaine/EDC/ed.htmhelpful information at www.eileandonancastle.co.uk/ www.eileandonancastle.com/
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Post by desertrose on Jul 3, 2005 6:43:09 GMT 10
Wonderful job, ladies. I love looking at castles and reading the history about them. My favorite being Eilean Donan! ;D Too bad they can't restore them all, but I know it costs a lot of money to take on a task like that, especially with as many castles and towers Scotland has. Thanks!
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