Building record MAB29315 - OLD SLAINS CASTLE

Remains of a castle.

Remains of a castle. Old Slains Castle is a tower house of 14th Century date. Traces of the barmekin wall can be seen in the cliff face to the south and southeast of the towerhouse but nothing remains of the gateway and wall. The ditch, which was partly natural, has been mutilated by later constructions. The outer ward is surrounded by steep natural slopes surmounted by a 'rampart' of earth and some stones, about 3m wide and 1m max height, which survives only to the west and south. (This is a feal dyke, in parts on a wide base.) Archaeological potential of inner ward probably low as this part of peninsula is mutilated by the modern A-frame house and road. However, large parts of the outer ward and possible ditches remain (but with septic tank runs in latter). Old track and another feal dyke run upslope to west of outer ditch, to south of road. Two areas of fallen stonework on lower coastal slope to north of inner ward. The origins of the castle are unclear but may have been built by the Earls of Buchan or the Comyns. The castle passed to the Hays in early 14th Century when William Hay was created Lord High Constable of Scotland by King Robert and was granted the lands of Slains. It became an Earldom in 1452. In the 16th Century the Hays allied themselves with the uprising against James VI. After defeating his opponents at Glenlivet, King James marched on and destroyed the castle in 1594. Two cannon lie in the area to the east of the castle, one of which has been mounted on a modern wooden gun mount. Both appear to have been recovered from the sea. An archaeological observation was carried out in April 1996 by MAS over the extension to no.13 Old Castle. Two watching briefs were carried out in May and June 2007 during groundwork for an extension to no.19 Old Castle (NK03SE0042).

Period Notes
Castle passed to the Hays in 1308; castle built 15thC; became an earldom in 1452; blown up and burnt 1594.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 02/09/81 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 19/08/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 250 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.

SCOTT, D, 1887, GRASS OF PARNASSUS FROM THE BENTS O’BUCHAN , 81, illus (Bibliographic reference). SAB1620.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, VOL III, 249 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

MOIR, J, 1897, A NEW HISTORY OF BUCHAN FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES, 297 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1179.

GILES, J, 1936, DRAWINGS OF ABERDEEN CASTLES, XXIX (Bibliographic reference). SAB587.

SIMPSON, WD, 1942, T BUCHAN FC 16(1939-42) 37-45, 39-40 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1675.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1980, DES,15, VOL 5, 276 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1847.

SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY, 1990, JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES, pp.20-21 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1738.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 1996, OLD SLAINS CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE - OBSERVATION AT 13 OLD CASTLE EXTENSION (Bibliographic reference). SAB5012.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2007, 19, OLD CASTLE, SLAINS - WATCHING BRIEF (Bibliographic reference). SAB2975.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2007, OLD SLAINS CASTLE - WATCHING BRIEF (Bibliographic reference). SAB2972.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2008, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION SCOTLAND, p.29 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4029.

BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.

Apr 10 1997 , AAS/97/04/CT10-11, AAS/97/04/CT10-11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16717.

Aug 2 1974 , BRE 064, BRE 064 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14956.

Feb 16 2008 , AAS/08/GR DG8723-50, AAS/08/GR DG8723-50 (Ground Photograph). SAB20740.

Jan 25 1999 , AAS/99/01/G1/1, AAS/99/01/G1/1 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16743.

Jul 24 1992 , AAS/92/06/G6/1-5, AAS/92/06/G6/1-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14954.

Mar 1 2011 , AAS/2011/2DG3301-4, AAS/2011/2DG3301-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13207.

May 31 1979 , POLAROID, POLAROID (Ground Photograph). SAB14957.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, SLAINS 37 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., BUCHAN OBSERVER, 23/09/86 (Bibliographic reference). SAB113.

Author unknown, n.d., LEOPARD MAGAZINE, VOL 2. NO.7 p.22-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1074.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL 12, 593 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Nov 11 1993 , AAS/93/15/G30/28, AAS/93/15/G30/28 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14955.

Nov 24 1994 , AAS/94/18/G38/10-5, AAS/94/18/G38/10-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15628.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/CT20-26, AAS/97/12/CT20-26 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16803.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/G24/6-8, AAS/97/12/G24/6-8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16802.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2024 12:19PM