Building record MAB38900 - RED CASTLE, LUNAN
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Summary
Remains of a castle.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 2925
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 6878 5107 (41m by 44m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO65SE |
| Civil Parish | Inverkeilor |
| Authority | Angus |
Type and Period (7)
- MOTTE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CASTLE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- TOWER (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- WALL (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- POST HOLE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- DITCH (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- MIDDEN (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
Full Description
Remains of a castle. The site was founded as a hunting seat by William the Lion in the 12th century. It was besieged in 1579 and was ruinous by 1770 although still partly roofed. The remains now consist of a possibly 13th century fragment of the massive wall of enceinte, and the ruin of the 15th century rectangular keep. There is also a coast guard station depicted on the 1st edition OS map. The name comes from the red freestone ashlar of which it is constructed. The enceinte wall is 6 metres (20 feet) high and 2 metres (6 feet) thick. A fragment can be traced just below ground level on the edge of the escarpment at the north-east angle of the keep. The remains of the four-storey keep has a parapet and bartizans at the angles. A recently excavated circular depression at the south east corner probably represents part of the World War II coastal defences. Site visit during coastal zone assessment survey carried out by SCAPE between February and March 2009 noted castle debris in the form of masonry blocks and roof slates on the foreshore. An eroding bank below the castle, and includes circa 5 metres (16 feet) of midden (NO65SE0062). Further SCAPE visits in 2012 and 2013 noted continuing erosion by the sea. Landslip has been reported in 2021.
Period Notes
Founded in the 12th century. The enceinte is possibly 13th century, and the keep is 15th century. It was besieged in 1579, and was ruinous by 1770. Keep and enceinte listed on 11/06/1971.
AN/3216, AN/3216 (Photograph). SAB23298.
AN/3217, AN/3217 (Photograph). SAB24260.
AN/3218, AN/3218 (Photograph). SAB23299.
AN/6676, AN/6676 (Photograph). SAB22517.
AN/6677, AN/6677 (Photograph). SAB22518.
AN/6678, AN/6678 (Photograph). SAB22519.
AN/6679, AN/6679 (Photograph). SAB22520.
AN/6680, AN/6680 (Photograph). SAB22521.
AN/6681, AN/6681 (Photograph). SAB22522.
B/05405, B/05405 (Photograph). SAB22523.
B/16236, B/16236 (Photograph). SAB22524.
B/16237, B/16237 (Photograph). SAB22525.
B/16238, B/16238 (Photograph). SAB22526.
SCAPE, 03/2009, COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY PART 2, p.47 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4802.
Warden, A J, 1880-5, [Untitled], Vol.3, 446-52 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10203.
MacGibbon and Ross, D and T, 1887-92, [Untitled], Vol.1, 280-1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6122.
Hay, G, 1899, [Untitled], 138 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11867.
Simpson, W D, 1941, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 75, 115-22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9894.
Wilson and Wilson, Mr and M, 1959, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11329.
Wilson and Wilson, Mr and M, 1960, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11328.
Wilson and Hurst, D M and, 1960, Medieval Archaeol 4, 147 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11330.
Wilson and Hurst, D M and, 1961, Medieval Archaeol 5, 321 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11332.
PSAS, 1961, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 92, 121 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6837.
Wilson, J, 1963, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 94, 325 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10315.
RCAHMS, 1978, [Untitled], 31, No.263 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7800.
Sherriff, J R, 1981, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 46 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10809.
PSAS, 1981, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 110, 541 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10341.
SCHMIDT, P. K., 1981, THE AXES OF SCOTLAND & NORTHERN ENGLAND, 357, 360, 373, 393 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8090.
Sherriff, J, 1983, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SAB11035.
Gibson and Pollock, D and A, 1983, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SAB11283.
POLLOCK, D, 1987, THE LUNAN VALLEY PROJECT: MEDIEVAL RURAL SETTLEMENT IN ANGUS. IN PSAS 115 (1985) 357-399, PSAS 115 (1985), 357-99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1486.
Feb 12 2008 , AAS/08/1/DG3, AAS/08/1/DG3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21214.
Jan 1 1997 , AAS/GR/97/CT603,608, AAS/GR/97/CT603,608 (Ground Photograph). SAB33073.
Jul 26 2016 , AAS-GR-16-07-033 to 051, AAS-GR-16-07-033 to 051 (Ground Photograph). SAB35520.
May 21 2002 , AAS/02/5/CT38-44, AAS/02/5/CT38-44 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29408.
May 21 2002 , AAS/02/5/G12/6-10, AAS/02/5/G12/6-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29407.
Author unknown, n.d., THE COURIER, 25/02/21 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4000.
Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/CT17-18, AAS/97/11/CT17-18 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28985.
Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/G22/24,25,28, AAS/97/11/G22/24,25,28 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28986.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ANG;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 2925;
- NMR Card Number: NO65SE10;
- NRHE Numlink: 35792;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO65SE0010;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM2925 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/35792 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (39)
- --- SAB10203 Bibliographic reference: Warden, A J. 1880-5. [Untitled]. Vol.3, 446-52.
- --- SAB10315 Bibliographic reference: Wilson, J. 1963. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 94. 325.
- --- SAB10341 Bibliographic reference: PSAS. 1981. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 110. 541.
- --- SAB10809 Bibliographic reference: Sherriff, J R. 1981. Discovery and Excavation, Scotland. 46.
- --- SAB11035 Bibliographic reference: Sherriff, J. 1983. Discovery and Excavation, Scotland.
- --- SAB11283 Bibliographic reference: Gibson and Pollock, D and A. 1983. Discovery and Excavation, Scotland.
- --- SAB11328 Bibliographic reference: Wilson and Wilson, Mr and M. 1960. Discovery and Excavation, Scotland. 3.
- --- SAB11329 Bibliographic reference: Wilson and Wilson, Mr and M. 1959. Discovery and Excavation, Scotland. 1.
- --- SAB11330 Bibliographic reference: Wilson and Hurst, D M and. 1960. Medieval Archaeol 4. 147.
- --- SAB11332 Bibliographic reference: Wilson and Hurst, D M and. 1961. Medieval Archaeol 5. 321.
- --- SAB11867 Bibliographic reference: Hay, G. 1899. [Untitled]. 138.
- --- SAB1486 Bibliographic reference: POLLOCK, D. 1987. THE LUNAN VALLEY PROJECT: MEDIEVAL RURAL SETTLEMENT IN ANGUS. IN PSAS 115 (1985) 357-399. PSAS 115 (1985), 357-99.
- --- SAB21214 Air-oblique Photograph: Feb 12 2008 . AAS/08/1/DG3. DG. AAS/08/1/DG3.
- --- SAB22517 Photograph: AN/6676. . AN/6676.
- --- SAB22518 Photograph: AN/6677. . AN/6677.
- --- SAB22519 Photograph: AN/6678. . AN/6678.
- --- SAB22520 Photograph: AN/6679. . AN/6679.
- --- SAB22521 Photograph: AN/6680. . AN/6680.
- --- SAB22522 Photograph: AN/6681. . AN/6681.
- --- SAB22523 Photograph: B/05405. . B/05405.
- --- SAB22524 Photograph: B/16236. . B/16236.
- --- SAB22525 Photograph: B/16237. . B/16237.
- --- SAB22526 Photograph: B/16238. . B/16238.
- --- SAB23298 Photograph: AN/3216. . AN/3216.
- --- SAB23299 Photograph: AN/3218. . AN/3218.
- --- SAB24260 Photograph: AN/3217. . AN/3217.
- --- SAB28985 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 23 1997 . AAS/97/11/CT17-18. Colour Transparency. AAS/97/11/CT17-18.
- --- SAB28986 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 23 1997 . AAS/97/11/G22/24,25,28. Black & White. AAS/97/11/G22/24,25,28.
- --- SAB29407 Air-oblique Photograph: May 21 2002 . AAS/02/5/G12/6-10. Black & White. AAS/02/5/G12/6-10.
- --- SAB29408 Air-oblique Photograph: May 21 2002 . AAS/02/5/CT38-44. Colour Transparency. AAS/02/5/CT38-44.
- --- SAB33073 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1997 . AAS/GR/97/CT603,608. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/97/CT603,608.
- --- SAB35520 Ground Photograph: Jul 26 2016 . AAS-GR-16-07-033 to 051. Digital. AAS-GR-16-07-033 to 051.
- --- SAB4000 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. THE COURIER. 25/02/21.
- --- SAB4802 Bibliographic reference: SCAPE. 03/2009. COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY PART 2. p.47.
- --- SAB6122 Bibliographic reference: MacGibbon and Ross, D and T. 1887-92. [Untitled]. Vol.1, 280-1.
- --- SAB6837 Bibliographic reference: PSAS. 1961. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 92. 121.
- --- SAB7800 Bibliographic reference: RCAHMS. 1978. [Untitled]. 31, No.263.
- --- SAB8090 Bibliographic reference: SCHMIDT, P. K.. 1981. THE AXES OF SCOTLAND & NORTHERN ENGLAND. Y. 357, 360, 373, 393.
- --- SAB9894 Bibliographic reference: Simpson, W D. 1941. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 75. 115-22.
Finds (1)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (6)
- Event - Intervention: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERVENTION - RED CASTLE, LUNAN (EAB19641)
- Event - Intervention: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERVENTION - RED CASTLE, LUNAN (EAB19642)
- Event - Survey: Field Observation - RED CASTLE, LUNAN (EAB3329)
- Event - Survey: Geophysical Survey - RED CASTLE, LUNAN (EAB2758)
- Event - Survey: Measured Survey - RED CASTLE, LUNAN (EAB13139)
- Event - Survey: Measured Survey - RED CASTLE, LUNAN (EAB3280)
Record last edited
Aug 26 2024 12:41PM
