Archaeology Notes
Event ID 850615
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/850615
NO88SE 11.00 88128 83842
(NO 8813 8385) Dunnottar Castle (NR)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1973)
NO88SE 11.01 NO 88028 83884 Benholm's Lodgings
NO88SE 11.02 NO 88065 83843 Smithy
NO88SE 11.03 NO 88047 83857 Keep
NO88SE 11.04 NO 88163 83817 East Guardhouse
NO88SE 11.05 NO 88088 83849 Priest's House
NO88SE 11.06 NO 88077 83825 Stables
NO88SE 11.07 NO 88169 83880 Quadrangle
NO88SE 11.08 NO 88152 83883 Well
NO88SE 11.09 NO 88038 83883 Entrance Gateway and Guardrooms
NO88SE 11.10 NO 88120 83855 Graveyard Walls
NO88SE 11.11 NO 88075 83873 Approach Tunnels
NO88SE 11.12 NO 88156 83863 St Ninian's Chapel
NO88SE 11.13 NO 8812 8384 Watching briefs (2005 and 2007)
Dunnottar Castle, as described and illustrated by Simpson (1968) is privately owned and open to the public.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (N K B), 15 December 1969.
Listed.
Scottish Castle Survey 1988; N Bogdan and I B D Bryce 1991.
Air photograph: AAS/94/16/G32/7.
NMRS, MS/712/21.
(Location cited as NO 8810 8380: nominated as Site of Regional Significance). This castle probably occupies the site of a prehistoric fort; St Ninian established a church here about the beginning of the 5th century and it may also be the 'Dunfoithir' that was besieged in 681. An oval motte was noted on the site in 1970. In the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) 'Dunnottar' was the place where warrants were returnable for the Mearns, and 'le castiel de Dunostre' is mentioned at the beginning of the 13th century. The parish church was on the site by the 13th century. Another castle (castle tower) was built at the end of the 14th century, being mentioned in a Papal Bull of 13 July 1394. Charles II lodged here in 1650 and the Scottish Crown Jewels (The Honours of Scotland) were hidden here in 1651 as it was considered one of the strongest places in the kingdom. In 1685, 167 Covenanters were packed into a small vault ('the Whig's vault') where 9 died due to the terrible conditions. In its final form, the castle was forfeited in 1716 and the roofs and floors removed and sold. In 1925 the systematic repair and excavation of the ruins was begun; the monument is now open to the public.
In its present form the extensive remains date from various periods. The oldest portion is the early 15th century keep with a range of buildings extending to the E containing stables and storehouses. The gatehouse is approached by a steep path and defended by three tiers of splayed gun-loops. The arched entrance is the only opening in a solid wall of masonry set into a cleft in the rock; a very impressive and dominating entrance. The buildings to the NW include a chapel, are grouped around a courtyard and date from the late 16th or early 17th centuries; a huge water tank lies within the courtyard and there is also a bowling green to the W of this later range.
A stone vessel from this site is held in the National Museums of Scotland.
[Air photographic imagery and newspaper references listed].
NMRS, MS/712/35.
