Archaeology Notes

Event ID 872704

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/872704

NX55NE 11.00 59059 55274

(NX 5904 5527) Cardoness Castle (NR) (In ruins)

OS 6" map (1957).

NX55NE 11.01 NS 59101 55341 Cardoness Castle Cottage

Not to be confused with Cardoness (House), at NX 56643 53608, for which see NX55SE 8.00.

NMRS REFERENCE:

Massive, well built tower of 15th century, with interesting features.

Now in possession of Ministry of Works and Buildings (c.1975).

(Undated) information in NMRS.

Cardoness Castle, a 15th century tower, oblong on plan, measuring 43' by 32' over 8' thick walls. Though roofless, it is practically complete, being c 53' from the ground to wall-head, divided into 4 storeys and attics. There is a courtyard to the S with outbuildings.

Cardoness is thought to have come into the McCulloch family in 1450, which may well be the date of the present building, and it remained in their hands till 1697 when Sir Godfrey McCulloch was executed in Edinburgh for the murder of Gordon of Bush o'Bield. It then passed to the Gordons, and then the Maxwells, and is now maintained by the Ministry of Works.

RCAHMS 1914, visited 1911; V G Childe and W D Simpson 1954; N Tranter 1965.

Cardoness Castle, as described above; excellent condition.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 10 July 1970

(Site is Listed under Gatehouse of Fleet Burgh).

G Stell 1986.

Scheduled as Cardoness Castle.

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 20 June 2002.