Archaeology Notes

Event ID 663801

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/663801

NH85NE 20 c. 87 57

The original castle of Nairn, extant in the time of Malcolm I and described by Camden as 'a tower on a peninsula of extraordinary height', stood near the mouth of the river and the remains were still visible at spring tides about the end of the 18th century.

L Shaw 1882

The ruins under the sea are probably those of an anchorage constructed as late as the 17th century. The ruins of the castle are supposed to be on the shore at the north-west corner of the Links.

G Bain 1893.

No trace of the castle was seen during field investigation and no reliable information obtained. Local, unconfirmed, opinion is that it stood opposite the swimming baths at NH 8770 5699.

Visited by OS (EGC) 29 November 1961.

Nairn castle was founded together with the burgh NH85NE 40. It may have been situated on or near the site of Constabular Gardens, High Street.

J Gifford 1992.

The term anchorage (used by Bain) is inappropriate in this context, as it refers to an area of seabed without prepared structures. A possible harbour is presumably implied.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 17 November 2008.