Muness Castle
| Muness Castle | |
|
Shetland | |
|---|---|
 Muness Castle | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | HP62790118 |
| Location: | 60°41’20"N, -0°51’8"W |
| History | |
| Information | |
| Condition: | ruined |
| Owned by: | Historic Scotland |
| Website: | Muness Castle |
Muness Castle is on the island of Unst, Shetland, the United Kingdom's most northerly inhabited island. The castle is two miles east of the village of Uyeasound. As Unst is its most northerly inhabited island, so Muness is Britain's most northerly fort.[1]
The castle was built from 1598 for Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie, half-brother to Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney. Earl Robert was succeeded by his son Patrick in 1593. The building may have been constructed under the direction of Andrew Crawford, Earl Patrick's master of works, who also oversaw construction of Scalloway Castle and the Earl's Palace at Kirkwall, Orkney.[2]
In 1627 the castle was burnt down, and may never have been fully repaired.[3] The castle is now roofless and missing its upper storey.
Aerial photographs reveal the possible presence of a formal garden to the south-west of the castle.[3]
Today Muness is in the care of Historic Scotland, and is a category A listed building.[2]
Outside links
- Muness Castle - Historic Environment Scotland
References
- ↑ Tranter 1970, p. 167.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Muness Castle: listed building information". Historic Scotland. http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2200:15:0::::BUILDING,HL:17476. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 CANMORE (RCAHMS) record of Muness Castle
- Tranter, Nigel (1970). The fortified house in Scotland. Vol.5 North and West Scotland and miscellaneous. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd/W. & R. Chambers. ISBN 978-0-550-21210-8.