Building record MAB8189 - AUCHINDOUN CASTLE

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Summary

Auchindoun Castle is a 15th century L-plan tower situated within a possible bivallate fort, although there is some disagreement whether this is an Iron Age fort or an earlier medieval castle.

Protected Status/Designation

Scheduled Monument 90024

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Location

Grid reference	Centred NJ 3490 3746 (222m by 236m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent
Map sheet	NJ33NW
Authority	Moray
Civil Parish	Mortlach

Type and Period (12)

Full Description

Auchindoun Castle is a 15th century L-plan tower situated within a possible bivallate fort, although there is some disagreement whether this is an Iron Age fort or an earlier medieval castle. The inner rampart is formed by ditch and the outer bank is mutilated by approach ramps to the castle on the west side, and by quarrying on the east. The outer defences are formed by a natural rocky slope to the east with a ditch and outer bank to the north and south. The present castle is said to have been built by Thomas Cochrane, architect, a favourite of James III from whom he received the Earldom of Mar in 1479. Clearance of the ground and first floor levels of main tower revealed a vaulted chamber set below ground level. The hall has a Gothic ribbed vault, while the ground floor has elliptic barrel vaults. The tower is surrounded by the remains of an enclosed courtyard wall. The castle was burnt in 1592 to revenge the murder of the Earl of Moray by the Marquis of Huntly. The OS 1st edition shows a limekiln attached to the boundary wall west of the castle. This appears disused on current OS maps although it is not shown on the 2nd edition OS map.

Period Notes
Present castle built c1479; Gordons received the lands in 1535; burnt out 1592; by 18thC remains were still good.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, VOL I,314-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

SIMPSON, WD, 1929, PSAS 63(1928-9) 102-37, 127 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1654.

CRUDEN, SH, 1960, THE SCOTTISH CASTLE , 122 (Bibliographic reference). SAB247.

MOW, 1961, A M'S SCOT, 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1166.

WORDSWORTH, J, 1984, DES,12, 12 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2028.

TURNER COIN

MCKEAN, C, 1987, MORAY: AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE, p.150 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1142.

Aug 15 1984 , BX 26-37, BX 26-37 (Ground Photograph). SAB33298.

Aug 15 1984 , BY 1-6, BY 1-6 (Ground Photograph). SAB30607.

Aug 15 1984 , BZ 1-4, BZ 1-4 (Ground Photograph). SAB30608.

Feb 18 1991 , AAS/91/4/CT21-3,25,27-29, AAS/91/4/CT21-3,25,27-29 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB32001.

Jan 1 1977 , AAS/GR/77/CT55, AAS/GR/77/CT55 (Ground Photograph). SAB32487.

Jul 1 1982 , AAS/82/8/CT44-6, AAS/82/8/CT44-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31988.

Jul 17 1959 , AAH 67-69, AAH 67-69 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB30610.

Jul 18 2013 , AAS-GR-13-07-152 - 191, AAS-GR-13-07-152 - 191 (Ground Photograph). SAB35211.

Jun 6 1983 , AAS/83/01/R2/4-6, AAS/83/01/R2/4-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB30609.

Jun 6 1984 , BI 3-13, BI 3-13 (Ground Photograph). SAB30606.

May 8 1995 , MJ 29, MJ 29 (Ground Photograph). SAB33357.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 10/10/14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Oct 16 1984 , DS 28, DS 28 (Ground Photograph). SAB33313.

Sep 2 2008 , AAS/08/4/DG0344-71, AAS/08/4/DG0344-71 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB32177.

Sep 2 2008 , AAS/08/4/DG9768-84, AAS/08/4/DG9768-84 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB32176.

Other Statuses/References

Authority: MOR;
Guardianship Monument (National): 3953;
HES Scheduled Monument Number: 90024;
NMR Card Number: NJ33NW1;
NRHE Numlink: 16797;
Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ33NW0012;

External Links (2)

https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM90024 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
https://www.trove.scot/place/16797 (trove.scot link)

Sources/Archives (21)

--- SAB1140 Bibliographic reference: MACGIBBON, D. 1892. THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5. Y. VOL I,314-7.
--- SAB1142 Bibliographic reference: MCKEAN, C. 1987. MORAY: AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE. N. p.150.
--- SAB1166 Bibliographic reference: MOW. 1961. A M'S SCOT. 13.
--- SAB1270 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. THE NORTHERN SCOT. 10/10/14.
--- SAB1654 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1929. PSAS 63(1928-9) 102-37. 127.
--- SAB2028 Bibliographic reference: WORDSWORTH, J. 1984. DES,12. 12.
--- SAB247 Bibliographic reference: CRUDEN, SH. 1960. THE SCOTTISH CASTLE . 122.
--- SAB30606 Ground Photograph: Jun 6 1984 . BI 3-13. Black & White. BI 3-13.
--- SAB30607 Ground Photograph: Aug 15 1984 . BY 1-6. Black & White. BY 1-6.
--- SAB30608 Ground Photograph: Aug 15 1984 . BZ 1-4. Black & White. BZ 1-4.
--- SAB30609 Air-oblique Photograph: Jun 6 1983 . AAS/83/01/R2/4-6. Black & White. AAS/83/01/R2/4-6.
--- SAB30610 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 17 1959 . AAH 67-69. Black & White. AAH 67-69.
--- SAB31988 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 1 1982 . AAS/82/8/CT44-6. Colour Transparency. AAS/82/8/CT44-6.
--- SAB32001 Air-oblique Photograph: Feb 18 1991 . AAS/91/4/CT21-3,25,27-29. Colour Transparency. AAS/91/4/CT21-3,25,27-29.
--- SAB32176 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 2 2008 . AAS/08/4/DG9768-84. DG. AAS/08/4/DG9768-84.
--- SAB32177 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 2 2008 . AAS/08/4/DG0344-71. DG. AAS/08/4/DG0344-71.
--- SAB32487 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1977 . AAS/GR/77/CT55. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/77/CT55.
--- SAB33298 Ground Photograph: Aug 15 1984 . BX 26-37. Black & White. BX 26-37.
--- SAB33313 Ground Photograph: Oct 16 1984 . DS 28. Black & White. DS 28.
--- SAB33357 Ground Photograph: May 8 1995 . MJ 29. Black & White. MJ 29.
--- SAB35211 Ground Photograph: Jul 18 2013 . AAS-GR-13-07-152 - 191. Digital. AAS-GR-13-07-152 - 191.

Finds (1)

COIN (Undated)

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Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Nov 14 2024 3:56PM