Building record MAB6000 - ROTHES CASTLE

Remains of castle, of 13th Century date.

Remains of castle, of 13th Century date. Exact date of construction not known, but King William the Lion requested Petrus de Pollock to build at castle at Rothes circa 1200. The site chosen was of strategic importance, with its commanding view across the valley it guarded an important highway of the early and middle ages. Later became the seat of the Leslies, Earl of Rothes, and is said to have been the manor of Roses where Edward I lodged 29 July 1296. It was habitable until 1620, but heavily damaged by Montrose. The castle is said to have consisted of a keep, several storeys in height, surrounded by a curtain wall. All that remains now is part of this curtain wall, isolated by dry moat to the southwest. It is roughly coursed with rubble infilling. Part of two splayed windows at each end of walling at first floor level and base plinth. Toothing of a barrel-vaulted structure is discernible on inner face. Much of the remaining building material was robbed and used in the construction of the 18th Century village. Now mutilated by modern shelter and paths. A programme of landscape, buildings and materials analysis (as part of the University of Stirling Scottish Medieval Castles and Chapels C14 Project) suggests that the surviving fragment of the castle is predominantly a single-phase structure. Analysis of the mortar indicates a source of lime from outcrops closer to Elgin.

Period Notes
Built c.15thC; burnt c.1660; previous notes state that it was built 'c.13thC; habitable until c.1620' which does not match up.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL I(1923) 22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL IX,221-222 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

RHIND, W, 1839, SKETCHES OF MORAY, 70 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1520.

MACKINTOSH, HB, 1924, PILGRIMAGES IN MORAY, 103-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1145.

DOE, 1966, A M's SCOT, 31 (Bibliographic reference). SAB353.

GREIG, MK, 1991, SANDY CREEK, FINDOCHTY, 81 (Bibliographic reference). SAB619.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2019, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 19, 2018, p. 144 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6524.

Aug 11 1986 , AAS/86/03/S5/4, AAS/86/03/S5/4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB30411.

Jan 1 1983 , AAS/GR/83/CT104,110,116, AAS/GR/83/CT104,110,116 (Ground Photograph). SAB32614.

Jul 3 2003 , GR/00/CT306-311, GR/00/CT306-311 (Ground Photograph). SAB36988.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, 1842,232 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 12/03/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 14/05/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 17/03/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 18/07/86 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Record last edited

Feb 28 2025 9:49AM