Standing Building Recording

Date April 2017 - June 2017

Event ID 1040364

Category Recording

Type Standing Building Recording

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1040364

NS 2128 5488 A programme of work was undertaken, April–June 2017. A standing building survey identified only minor alterations to the castle exterior since its original late 15th/ early 16th-century construction. These include the blocking up of four windows, denoting a change in use of the interior space, and modern blocking, which was probably carried out to seal the castle as it fell out of use.

The majority of the visible alterations to the castle are located at the interior first floor level, where the layout was changed to open up the whole floor and use the NE fireplace as a focal point. It is uncertain when these alterations took place, but they may date from the late 1600s following a change in ownership of the castle.

The layout of the second and third floors was consistent with that of living quarters, with the higher quality stone finishing on the third floor suggesting that this floor was the laird’s quarters, with the second floor used for servants’ quarters and storage.

A watching brief was then undertaken as collapsed rubble and debris was removed from the interior and a number of sherds or medieval pottery were recovered.

Archive: NRHE (intended)

Funder: Private individual

Dave McNicol – GUARD Archaeology Ltd

(Source: DES, Volume 18)