Archaeology Notes

Event ID 701557

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/701557

NS31NE 4 3952 1732.

(NS 3952 1732) Martnaham Castle (NR) (remains of)

OS 1:10000 map (1981)

The ruins of an old castle built on an island near the centre of Martinham (sic) Loch. The entrance to it has been from the S side of the loch, formed by an embankment from the land to the island. The walls are from 4ft to 10ft high. It is not known when it was erected (Name Book 1856).

'The principal mansion of Martnam (sic) situated in the lake...' (Gavin Ros Protocols, April 1523, No.649) was inhabited till the 16th century. W J Dillon 1955

The crumbling remains of a large building, 21m by 7.5m. Abutting on the NE, the foundations of an annexe, 12m by 5m, can be traced in the grass. The main block is divided into three compartments, and the walls are of mortared rubble masonry, 0.8m thick, and attain a maximum height of 2.0m. Architectural features (remains of doors, windows, walls etc) indicate the building as being of 16th/17th century date.

Visited by OS (JLD) 12 December 1955

The course of the courtyard wall can be traced on the NE of the island in the form of a grass-covered bank; and along the side of the loch on the S and SE as a scatter of stones. The stone-built causeway leading to the castle is 84.0m long and 4.0m wide.

Turf-covered foundations of a possible rectangular building, 15.0m by 6.0m, at the approach to the causeway may indicate the presence of a gatehouse.

Visited by OS (JLD) 12 December 1955

Martnaham Castle, heavily overgrown and in the last stages of decay, is generally as described above. The courtyard wall and the foundations of the possible rectangular building are now too vague for survey or identification.

Revised at 1:2500.

The remains of the castle are still overgrown. The remaining walls stand to a height of 1.7m but the window and door frames have been removed.

Visited by OS (MJF) 24 September 1980