Boddam Castle

NK14SW 2 13209 41800

(NK 1320 4180) Boddam Castle (NR)

OS 6" map, (1959).

The remains of the 15-16th century Boddam Castle consist of the entrance archway, surmounted by a low gable, and one or two smaller arches as well as the complete foundation. What may have been the hinges of a drawbridge were found when a trench was cut in front of the entrance in 1868.

This was a seat of the Keiths of Ludquharn.

D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92; J B Pratt 1901; J Ferguson 1900.

Boddam Castle comprises the remains of a curtain wall, c.33.0m square, with the entrance in the W consisting of the W gable of a building with a round arched doorway and square window above. Three gun-loops are visible. The footings of a range of buildings remain within the enclosure against the N and S walls.

Resurveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (RL) 22 May 1972.

Air photographs: AAS/97/12/G25/1 and AAS/97/12/CT.

NMRS, MS/712/29.

NK 1320 4180 A watching brief was carried out in January 2006 during the construction of a new pathway leading to Boddam Castle. The castle lies c 3km S of Peterhead on a level promontory between two deep vertical sided sea inlets. It was built by the Keiths of Ludquharn and dates to the late 16th to early 17th century. The path was c 1.6m wide and was excavated to a maximum depth of c 300mm. No archaeological features or finds were evident.

Report lodged with Aberdeenshire SMR and NMRS.

Sponsor: Boddam Community Council.

JC Murray, 2006.