Dundarg Castle

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Dundarg Castle

Aberdeenshire

Geograph-285141-Des Colhoun-Dundarg Castle and Fort.jpg
Remains of Dundarg Castle
Location
Grid reference: NJ895649
Location: 57°40’27"N, 2°10’39"W
History
Information
Condition: Ruinous

Dundarg Castle is a ruined castle in Aberdeenshire, about a mile and a half north of New Aberdour. It was built within the ramparts of an earlier Iron Age promontory fort.[1] Its name comes from the Gaelic dun dearg, meaning red fort or castle, referring to the colour of the sandstone.[2]

This castle was described by W. Douglas Simpson as one of the nine castles of the Knuckle, referring to the rocky headland of north-eastern Aberdeenshire.[3]

The site consists of a triangle of gently sloping ground flanked by steep slopes on all sides, linked to a flat-topped elongated promontory extending to the north-east, surrounded by sandstone cliffs 70 feet high.[2]

History

The 6th century Book of Deer records the existence of a cathair or fortified place at Aberdour.[2]

The castle itself was built in the thirteenth century by the Comyn family, and subsequently dismantled, probably by their deadly rival, Robert the Bruce, in 1308. It was rebuilt in 1334 by Henry de Beaumont, but destroyed almost immediately, after a famous siege by Sir Andrew Moray. Evidence of this double destruction was confirmed by excavations during 1911-12 and in 1950-51, which found many mediæval objects.

The only substantial part of the castle remaining is the inner gatehouse, which survives to a height of about 18 feet. The upper part was rebuilt about the middle of the sixteenth century, probably following the Coastal Defence Commission of 1550, and there is some evidence that it was provided with gunloops at this time. The site was finally abandoned in the mid-17th century. A house was built on part of the site in 1938, reputedly by and for Wing Commander David Vaughan Carnegie, using stone from the former Aberdour Free Church.[4]

The castle and promontory fort are protected as a scheduled monument,[5] while the modern house is a category B listed building.[6]

References

  1. Canmore.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Fojut & Love 1983, p. 449.
  3. Simpson, W.D. (1949). "Cairnbulg Castle, Aberdeenshire". Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 83: 32–44. http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_083/83_032_044.pdf. 
  4. David Vaughan Carnegie: Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  5. Dundarg Castle, fort and castle - scheduled monument detail (Historic Environment Scotland)
  6. Dundarg Castle (house) (Category B) - Listing detail (Historic Environment Scotland)


The Nine Castles of the Knuckle, Aberdeenshire

Cairnbulg CastleDundarg CastleInverallochy CastleKinnaird CastleLonmay CastlePitsligo CastlePittulie CastleCastle of RattrayWinetower