Carnasserie Castle, interior. Detail of diamond-shaped opening in first floor, South wall of Tower.

Description Carnasserie Castle, interior. Detail of diamond-shaped opening in first floor, South wall of Tower.

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number SC 366654

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of B 7654

Scope and Content Diamond-shaped gun-port at first-floor level of north wall of main tower of Carnassarie Castle, overlooking Kilmartin valley, Argyll Carnassarie Castle was built in 1565-72 by John Carswell, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, on the land of his patron, the Earl of Argyll. In 1643, the feudal overlord, the Marquis of Argyll, granted it to the Campbells of Auchenbreck. This diamond-shaped gun-port lights the latrine leading off the bishop's great chamber. It gives a defender as wide a field of fire as possible without exposing him to return-fire from attackers. In 1685, 600 royalists stormed Carnassarie Castle after it was 'blown up by treachery'. They are said to have ignored its subsequent surrender, wounded twenty defenders, killed the laird's uncle, driven off 60 horses, and left the castle in ashes. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/366654

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap