Archaeology Notes

Event ID 709395

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/709395

NS98NE 16 97676 85883.

(NS 9767 8587) Dunimarle Castle (NR) (remains of)

OS 6" map, (1967)

For the new Dunimarle Castle, see NS98NE 36.00.

All that remains of Dunimarle Castle is part of a western wall, probably a curtain, with a ruinous, vaulted tower at its N end (RCAHMS 1933) This is alleged to have been a castle of Macduff, thane of Fife; the ancient name of the estate was Dunimarle, after the Reformation it was known as Castlehill, and the old name was restored by the proprietor some time between 1839 and 1859.

NSA (written by A Duncan and J Balfour - 1839) 1845; Name Book 1859; D Beveridge 1885; RCAHMS 1933, visited 1928.

The remains consist of a small rectangular building the S gable of which is almost complete. The E wall is 2.0m high but only 4.0m of its length are now visible. The W wall is 2.3m high internally. The "tower" on the NW angle is large and beehive-shaped, the vaulting being almost complete leaving only a small hole in the top. It adopts a similar shape underground but its depth could not be ascertained due to the large amount of rubbish deposited in it. It has the appearance of an ice-house, but it looks older than the rectangular building, which seems to be of late 16th- early 17th century date. The remains are in a very dilapidated condition.

Visited by OS (J L D) 12 March 1953.