Barnyards, Castle
Castle (Medieval)
Site Name Barnyards, Castle
Classification Castle (Medieval)
Canmore ID 33665
Site Number NO45NE 10
NGR NO 4789 5767
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/33665
- Council Angus
- Parish Tannadice
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Angus
- Former County Angus
NO45NE 10 479 576.
(Name: NO 479 570) Castle (NR) (Site of) (NAT)
OS 6" map, (1959)
The site of a castle of the Lindsays, two archways of which remained at the end of the 18th century a little NW of Barnyards farmhouse, which was built from its ruins (Jervise 1853).
Mr Smith, aged more than 70, indicated a spot near the well at the bottom of the farmhouse garden where he remembered ruins standing when he was a boy (ie c.1800).
Mr Fairweather, in digging a hole in 1857, came upon lime-mortared foundations at the published site, but he did not excavate all of them. It was evidently known as Castle of Barnyards.
Name Book 1862; A Jervise 1853; Information from Alexander Smith, pensioner; Information from L Fairweather, Tenant, Barnyards.
There is no trace of this castle in the vicinity of Barnyards Farm nor could the farmer (Mr G K Smith, Barnyards Farm, Kirriemuir) give any indication of its possible site. There are however several large dressed stones set in the walls of the farm buildings and these may have come from the castle ruins as suggested by Jervise (1853).
Visited by OS (TRG) 6 January 1977.
Note (1984)
Barnyards NO 479 570 NO45NE 10
The remains of this castle were removed in the late 18th century; until then 'several of the vaults were standing; and some of the walls, from five to seven feet in height'.
RCAHMS 1984.
(Stat Acct, xix, 1797, 383; Name Book, Forfar, No. 82, pp. 90-1; Jervise 1882, 208; Warden 1880-85, v, 186).
