Document record MAB59466 - CASTLE HILL, RATTRAY

Site of castle.

Site of castle. The Comyn family held a castle here in the early 13th Century, but after their defeat by Robert the Bruce, the Earldom of Buchan was despoiled. Simpson notes that it was one of the nine castles of the Knuckle (Northeast promontory of Buchan). The development of the castle in the late 12th or early 13th century began with a simple motte, which in the later 13th or early 14th century was redeveloped into a more permanent lordly residence, centred on a timber hall, subsequently replaced by a stone building. The hill is oval and natural with its top slightly dished. No artificial features are evident. A quantity of regularly-laid stones were removed circa 1734 and some silver coins have also been found. Nearly two-thirds of the castle mound, when excavated in 1985-9, revealed foundations of the main 13th Century phase with perimeter wall including two mural buildings and harbour-side entrance. The full extent of the main 14th Century building was a fairly impressive structure circa 20 m by 6.5 m. The interior was divided into three parts, a central room, and two smaller end rooms. The central room had a roughly circular stone footing which may have been for a brazier. There was also an indication of a possible forestair which taken into conjunction with the wall thickness suggests a two-storied structure. It appears possible that there may have been a timber structure prior to the stone one, as 13th Century French pottery was found below the sand and turf levelling of the mound top. Several pieces of window glass were found within the castle remains along with small personal ornaments such as buckles and a harness piece and part of an aquamanile. The castle was abandoned in the 15th century.

ROBERTSON, J, 1843, HISTORY OF SHIRES OF ABERDEEN & BANFF, 423-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1504.

PRATT, J. B., 1858, BUCHAN: A TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION, 167 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1410.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No21(1870) 30 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

FERGUSON, J, 1913, T BANFF FC 10,3A(1912-3)207-82, 215-6, 241-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB507.

SIMPSON, W. D., 1949, CAIRNBULG CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE, 33 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1682.

MURRAY, JC, 1985, RATTRAY - INTERIM REPORT, INTERIM REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB1242.

MURRAY, H.K., 1990, DES : OLD RATTRAY, 17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2859.

EXCAVATION

MURRAY, HK, 1993, EXCAVATIONS AT RATTRAY, ABERDEENSHIRE: A SCOTTISH DESERTED BURGH IN MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY 37, 109-218 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4701.

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

Aug 7 1985 , AAS/GR/85/CT393, AAS/GR/85/CT393 (Ground Photograph). SAB32664.

Jan 1 1985 , AAS/GR/85/CT04-06,10-12, AAS/GR/85/CT04-06,10-12 (Ground Photograph). SAB32640.

Jan 1 1985 , AAS/GR/85/CT16-17,21-22, AAS/GR/85/CT16-17,21-22 (Ground Photograph). SAB32641.

Jan 1 1986 , AAS/GR/86/CT157, AAS/GR/86/CT157 (Ground Photograph). SAB32682.

Jan 1 1987 , AAS/GR/87/CT10-14,16-17, AAS/GR/87/CT10-14,16-17 (Ground Photograph). SAB32696.

Jul 1 1985 , AAS/GR/85/CT/97-98, AAS/GR/85/CT/97-98 (Ground Photograph). SAB32654.

Jul 5 1979 , AAS/79/4/CT5,7,9, AAS/79/4/CT5,7,9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18959.

Jul 8 1985 , EP 24-6, EP 24-6 (Ground Photograph). SAB15042.

Jul 28 1989 , AAS/89/10/S31/4,5,9,11-4, AAS/89/10/S31/4,5,9,11-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15041.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 11/01/17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Nov 11 1993 , AAS/93/15/G30/31, AAS/93/15/G30/31 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15043.

Record last edited

Apr 7 2026 10:55AM