Archaeology Notes

For Mains of Glamis steading (NO 3935 4757) and cottages (NO 3944 4775), see NO34NE 72.00 and NO34NE 72.01 respectively. For Glamis House (NO 3800 4690) and Lodge (NO 3811 4694), see NO34NE 78.00 and NO34NE 78.01 respectively.

(NO 3860 4806) Glamis Castle (NR)

(NO 3847 4797) West Tower (NR)

(NO 3866 4794) East Tower (NR)

OS 6" map, (1959)

Glamis Castle: There was a castle on this site in 1376, when it was granted by Robert I to John Lyon, Lord Glamis, who reconstructed the castle about then. The L-plan tower, which is the earliest part of the present building, dates from this period (early 15th century). Of the outer defences, only two wall towers remain. There were also three ditches surrounding the castle, but they were filled up in the 17th century (A Jervise 1861) when considerable changes were made. The central stairway was built then as well as the upper parts of the tower above the 4th storey. The W wing was also added, and rebuilt c. 1800. The E wing is mainly 17th century, but incorporates much earlier walls. Residential quarters extending E from the tower date mainly from the 19th century.

S Toy 1966; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92; A Jervise 1861.

Glamis Castle is as described above and in an excellent state of preservation. The NW wing is modern although of 17th century style; the estate factor states it was rebuilt after being destroyed by fire c. 1806). The SE wing is of 17th century date, but has a modern roof and parapet. Central stair tower and roof features of the keep are all of 17th c date. The rest of the mansion is modern.

The two enceinte towers in front of the castle each measure 7.0m in diameter and c. 4.0m in height, each with a modern parapet. The walls are 1.0m thick and give no indication of where the enceinte joined them.

Visited by OS (W D J) 16 December 1969.

NO 386 481 An archaeological watching brief was carried out in July 2002 during topsoil stripping for the construction of a new retail pavilion at Glamis Castle. An initial phase of watching brief on the stripping of an access road on the N side of the proposed new build identified a deposit containing glass, iron slag and pottery, and possibly two ditches.

Foundations and rubble spreads were uncovered on the site of the new build building. Salvage excavation revealed the foundations of a small building and part of another, walls and a metalled surface. An abundance of 18th-century glass bottle fragments were found as well as 19th-century pottery sherds. The buildings were considered to represent outbuildings (gate houses) and a roadway leading to a courtyard associated with 18th-century landscaping around the castle. These features are shown on a plan of the castle and its policies dated 1746. Pits and a stone-built drain were recorded during a subsequent watching brief.

Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.

Sponsor: Strathmore Estates.

R Cachart 2002

NO 386 480 An archaeological watching brief was carried out, between 5th - 16th February 2007, during the soil strip for a new approach road. The new approach road runs from the W end of Main Street and heads N in a direct line to the castle. From Main Street it extends for c.120m where it joins the existing tree-lined approach to the castle.

Although no archaeological features were uncovered during the soil strip, the finds of medieval and late medieval pottery and a bronze cooking pot are indications that there was activity in this part of the village of Glamis from as early as the 13th century. The distribution of the finds also shows that the earlier pottery was located between 90m and 110m N of the village while the later pottery and the bronze vessel were in closer proximity to the village main street.

Sponsor: James F Stephen, Architects, on behalf of Strathmore Estates (Holding) Ltd.

J C Murray, 2007.

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551 166/1/1

Archaeological site card index ('495' cards)

Archaeology Notes

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References