Towie Barclay Castle
Castle (Medieval), Tower House (Medieval)
Site Name Towie Barclay Castle
Classification Castle (Medieval), Tower House (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Castle Of Towie Barclay
Canmore ID 19196
Site Number NJ74SW 10
NGR NJ 74434 43936
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/19196
Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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SC 1587543
View of entrance doorway, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587552
View of farm buildings, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587567
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing principal staircase.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587569
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing basement.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587579
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of boss on groined vault in entrance lobby.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1673621
Oblique aerial view centred on the castle and tower-house, taken from the WNW.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
8/3/1999
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 344510
Plan, block plan, section, elevation for offices in Dykeside Steading.
Records of F A MacDonald and Partners, architects, Aberdeen, Scotland
1869
© Courtesy of HES (F A MacDonald and Partners Collection)
SC 2376462
Towie Barclay Castle, NJ74SW 10, Ordnance Survey index card, Recto
Records of the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, England
1958
© Crown Copyright: HES (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Collection)
SC 2376463
Towie Barclay Castle, NJ74SW 10, Ordnance Survey index card, Recto
Records of the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, England
1958
© Crown Copyright: HES (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Collection)
SC 2517244
Towie Barclay Castle. Interior. View of Piper's Gallery in Great Hall.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1587534
General view of Towie Barclay Castle from NW.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587547
View of window on E elevation, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587553
View of farm buildings, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587587
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing Great Hall with fireplace.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1638502
View of steading.
List C Survey
1975
© Crown Copyright: HES (List C Survey)
SC 1673626
Oblique aerial view centred on the castle and tower-house, taken from the ESE.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
8/3/1999
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2376465
Towie Barclay Castle, NJ74SW 10, Ordnance Survey index card, Recto
Records of the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, England
1958
© Crown Copyright: HES (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Collection)
SC 1587539
View of N elevation of Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587541
View of entrance doorways, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587546
Detail within fireplace in Great Hall, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587557
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing heraldic boss on ceiling of Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587564
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing decorated corbel in gallery of Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587566
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing principal staircase.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1673624
Oblique aerial view centred on the castle and tower-house, taken from the SSE.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
8/3/1999
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 018433
Oblique aerial view centred on the castle, tower-house and steading with the watermill adjacent, taken from the E.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital
6/7/2006
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1587535
General view of Towie Barclay Castle from SW.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587542
Detail of entrance lintel, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587548
Detail within fireplace in Great Hall, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587559
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing corbel in Main Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587565
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing decorated corbel in gallery of Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587585
View of farm building at North range, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 2376464
Towie Barclay Castle, NJ74SW 10, Ordnance Survey index card, Recto
Records of the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, England
1958
© Crown Copyright: HES (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Collection)
SC 2517246
Towie Barclay Castle. Interior. View of roof of Great Hall from Piper's Gallery.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2517249
Towie Barclay Castle. Detail of inscribed lintel of side entrance.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2517250
Towie Barclay Castle. Detail of first floor window on South side.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2517253
Towie Barclay Castle. Detail of vaulting corbel in hall.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1587554
View of farm building, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587561
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing corbel with skull and crossbones in gallery of Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587568
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing basement.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587574
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1638503
View of steading.
List C Survey
1975
© Crown Copyright: HES (List C Survey)
SC 2517251
Towie Barclay Castle. Detail of vaulting corbel in hall.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1587536
General view of Towie Barclay Castle from SW.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587537
General view of Towie Barclay Castle from SE.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587538
General view of Towie Barclay Castle from SE.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587545
Detail within fireplace in Great Hall, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587550
Detail of loophole on N elevation, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587551
General view of farmsteading in E range, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587556
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing fireplace in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587560
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing defaced shield of one of the four evangelists in gallery of Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587563
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing corbel with shield with emblems of evangelist in gallery of Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587572
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing Piper’s Gallery in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587577
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of central boss in Piper’s Gallery in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587578
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of groined vault in entrance lobby.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587580
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587586
Detail showing filled-in window in farm building on North range, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1673623
Oblique aerial view centred on the castle and tower-house, taken from the SSW.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
8/3/1999
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2516987
Towie Barclay Castle. Interior. View of vaulting and fireplace in Great Hall.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2516988
Towie Barclay Castle. View from South-West.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2517252
Towie Barclay Castle. Detail of vaulting corbel in hall.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1587544
Detail of plaque above entrance doorway, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587570
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing basement.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587571
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing Piper’s Gallery in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587583
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of carved boss in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587584
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of carved boss in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1673625
Oblique aerial view centred on the castle and tower-house, taken from the SE.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
8/3/1999
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1773749
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of carved boss in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 2516986
Towie Barclay Castle. Interior. View of vault inside entrance.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2517245
Towie Barclay Castle. Interior. View of Piper's Gallery in Great Hall.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2517247
Towie Barclay Castle. Interior. View of stair.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2517248
Towie Barclay Castle. Detail of decoration and inscription over main entrance.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
19/7/1942
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1587533
General view of Towie Barclay Castle from NW.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587540
View of Towie Barclay Castle from W.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587549
Detail of loopholes on E elevation, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587555
Detail of dovecot on farm building, Towie Barclay Castle.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587558
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing corbel stop with one of the four evangelists in gallery of Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587562
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing corbel with shield with emblems of evangelist in gallery of Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587573
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing Piper’s Gallery in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587575
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing rib-vault in Piper’s Gallery in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587576
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of rib-vault and carved boss in Piper’s Gallery in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587581
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of rib-vaulting on ceiling in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1587582
Interior view of Towie Barclay Castle showing detail of carved boss in Great Hall.
Records of the Scottish National Buildings Record, Edinburgh, Scotland
5/1963
© Crown Copyright: HES (Scottish National Buildings Record)
SC 1673622
Oblique aerial view centred on the castle and tower-house, taken from the SW.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
8/3/1999
© Crown Copyright: HES
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Turriff
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Banff And Buchan
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ74SW 10.00 74434 43936
NJ74SW 10.01 74475 43947 Steading
(NJ 74434 43936) Castle of Towie Barclay (NR)
OS 6" map, (1959)
Towie Barclay is a mid-16th century building, which formerly belonged to the old family of Tollie de Berkely. A plaque on the wall bears the date 1593. In 1792, the turrets and embrasures were removed, two stories taken off, and the ditch filled up.
Probably erected or completed in 1593 as shown by the date-stone, but a castle at Towie Barclay is mentioned in 1558 and 1587. One of a group of four contemporary Aberdeenshire castles (Craig, Delgaty, and Gight are the others), almost certainly the work of the same master mason.
D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92; W D Simpson 1930.
'Castle of Towie Barclay' is occupied and currently undergoing renovations.
Visited by OS (ISS) 7 February 1965.
Now restored and occupied.
N Tranter 1990.
NMRS REFERENCE
Towie Barclay Castle
Owner: Aberdeen Endowments Trust
Factor: D. E. D. Cromie, A.R.I.C.S.
NMRS NOTES
Dykeside Farm, Towie Barclay Estate.
ARCHITECT: James F. Beattie 1869
Plan NMRS
F.A.M. MacDonald Collection - James F Beattie 1869 - 1 sheet plan, elevation, section of offices.
Photographic Survey (May 1963)
Photographic survey of the exterior and interior of Towie Barclay Castle, Aberdeenshire, by the Scottish National Buildings Record/Ministry of Works in May 1963.
