Archaeology Notes

Event ID 695131

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/695131

NR76SW 16 70799 64131

(NR 7080 6412) Kilberry

(Kilberry Castle on OS 6"map, Argyllshire, 2nd ed., 1900)

Early building is masked by 19th century additions to NW and along the SW face. MS plans of 1772 show a tower house of 16th century type. (Burnt in that year.) A lintel shown in one elevation is dated '1545' - 1595 would fit the genealogy better. Recently small blocked windows in what must have been an internal gable in this tower, have been found, and suggest an earlier rectangular keep, enlarged to an L-shaped tower (? c. 1600). A lintel over the door reads "Plundered and burnt by Capt Proby an English pirate 1513. Rebuilt JC 1849." This is clearly bogus, but the stone is said to have been found during renovations in 1849, and re-cut. Possibly this was the 15(4)5 lintel turned and re-used. A triangular stone above this, with initials and date 1497 is equally suspect for the same reasons. Kilberry is first mentioned in the 17th century

M Campbell and M Sandeman 1964.

Externally, Kilberry Castle is of the Victorian period and has little architectural merit.

Visited by OS (I A) 27 June 1973.