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Archaeology Notes
Event ID 664764
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/664764
NH91NW 4 94715 19635
(NH 9473 1963) Tom Bigla (NAT)
Bigla Cummings Castle (NR) (Remains of)
OS 6" map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1903).
Location formerly entered as NH 9473 1963.
The remains of 'an ancient stronghold' called Tom Pitlac (the hill of Bigla or Matilda), an oblong plateau bounded on one side by the Spey, and on the other three by a moat 8ft deep; on the plateau are the grass-covered foundation lines of a building about 70ft long. The name is associated with Bigla (Matilda) Cumin, daughter of Gilbert Cumin, Lord of Glenchearnach in the early 15th century; and the heroine of a number of local legends.
A Mitchell and J Drummond 1875.
Known locally as Tom Pitlac. The earthwork consists of a V-shaped ditch (not a moat) of clean-cut profile, and is probably medieval. At the E end of the enclosed area there is a near rectangular depression measuring about 8m E-W by 7m transversly, possibly the site of a building (? tower), but probing for signs of walling was inconclusive. It is possible that this is a motte.
Surveyed at 1/2500
Visited by OS (R L) 8 November 1966.
Scheduled as motte.
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 17 August 2000.
