Archaeology Notes

Event ID 653717

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/653717

ND16NW 11 ND 1124 6806

(ND 1124 6806) Gastlegreen Manse (NAT)

on site of (NAT) Castle (NR)

OS 6" map, (1971).

See also:

ND16NW 384.00 ND 11246 68061 Castlegreen Manse (Greenacres)

The Castle of Thurso, also called the Castle of Ormly, built on rising ground termed the Brown Hill, was occupied by the Earls of Orkney. The foundations were dug up a few years ago and its well, about 20ft deep, strongly built and circuar from the bottom, was cleared out. Since then it has been filled in and obliterated. The manse was built on the site of the castle in 1818, some of the remaining stones being used to build it. The castle was destroyed by fire in the early 16th century.

Name Book 1872.

Torfaeus, writing of Castle Ormlie in the 17th century, speaks of it as Castrum de Thorsa, the seat of the Scandinavian Earls.

T Torfaeus 1866; W Campbell 1902.

There is no trace of a castle at the Manse. No further information obtained.

Visited by OS (E G C), 18 April 1962.

No change to the previous field report.

Visited by OS (J M), 30 September 1981.