Building record MAB36677 - MELGUND CASTLE

Partially restored castle, built in the 16th century for David Beaton and Marion Ogilvy.

Partially restored castle, built in the 16th century for David Beaton and Marion Ogilvy. Building began in 1543, and it was probably habitable by 1545. It later fell into ruin, and the West end was then restored in the 1990s by Benjamin Tindall. The castle is rectangular and oriented roughly East/West, and is split into two sections. There is an L-plan long section to the East divided in half with a tower at the North-East corner, and a shorter rectangular section to the West with a tower on the North elevation. Only the Western section has been restored, and the rest has been left roofless, and in a ruinous condition. The restoration work also included building a rectangular enclosure off the North elevation, with re-used gatepiers (NO55NW0108). The tower has three storeys, and a crow-stepped caphouse above a corbelled crenellated parapet with cannon spouts running along its base. To the East of the base of the tower is a plank door with ornate metal hinges, covering much of the door, surmounted by a blocked rectangular opening. The North elevation of the tower has thee central windows, the ground floor one is square, and covered by a metal grate, and the upper two are rectangular with lattice glazing. There are slit windows to the narrow West elevation. To the West of the tower is a slightly projecting bay on the North elevation, also with slit windows. To the West of this is a bay of similar size as the projecting bay, with one horizontal slit window at the first floor, and a small rectangular lattice-paned window below. Both are off-centre. Projecting from the centre of this bay is a short section of wall standing to around first-floor height, and includes an archway. It only extends not far beyond the archway, and the modern enclosing low coped rubble wall joins it at its base. There is a shorter section of wall at a similar height at the Eastern end of the castle. There earlier sections of wall are possibly remnants of a barmekin wall. The West-facing elevation of the castle has two central rectangular windows. The Eastern section of the castle that has been left ruinous shows a two-storey structure, with higher elements and the remains of a circular tower at the North-East corner. There is a lintel on the North face with an armorial and the initials D.B. There are intact vaulted basements. An armorial stone from this castle was re-set in Aberlemno Parish Church (NO55NW0028). Between 1990 and 1996, excavations and a resistivity survey were carried out in and around the castle (see NO55NW0109).

Period Notes
Building began in 1543, and it was probably habitable by 1545. The Western section was restored in the 1990s. It was listed on 11/06/1971, and changed from a B to an A listing on 21/11/1995.

DC/32959, DC/32959 (Photograph). SAB24376.

DC/32960, DC/32960 (Photograph). SAB24377.

DC/32961, DC/32961 (Photograph). SAB24378.

DC/32962, DC/32962 (Photograph). SAB24379.

MS/957/11/1, MS/957/11/1 (Photograph). SAB24368.

MS/957/11/2, MS/957/11/2 (Photograph). SAB24369.

MS/957/11/3, MS/957/11/3 (Photograph). SAB24370.

MS/957/11/4, MS/957/11/4 (Photograph). SAB24371.

MacGibbon and Ross, D and T, 1887-92, [Untitled], Vol. 4, 311-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6112.

TRNATER, N, 1962, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOTLAND VOL4-ABERDEENSHIRE, 139-141 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1917.

RCAHMS, 1984, [Untitled], 15, No. 75 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9383.

Lewis, J, 1990, Discovery and Excavation, 40 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10724.

Cachart, R, 1990, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 40 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10725.

Lewis, J, 1991, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 71 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10971.

LEWIS, J, 1994, DES. MELGUND CASTLE, 80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1109.

Lewis, J, 1996, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11529.

Sep 15 2000 , AAS/00/13/CT46-51, AAS/00/13/CT46-51 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29365.

Sep 15 2000 , AAS/00/13/G31/18-9, AAS/00/13/G31/18-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29366.

Record last edited

Nov 9 2016 9:14AM