RCAHMS Images On Line
From Canmore
QUOTE
Archaeology Notes
NO88SE 11.00 88128 83842
NO88SE 11.01 88028 83884 Benholm's Lodgings
NO88SE 11.02 88065 83843 Smithy
NO88SE 11.03 88047 83857 Keep
NO88SE 11.04 88163 83817 East Guardhouse
NO88SE 11.05 88088 83849 Priest's House
NO88SE 11.06 88077 83825 Stables
NO88SE 11.07 88169 83880 Quadrangle
NO88SE 11.08 88152 83883 Well
NO88SE 11.09 88038 83883 Entrance Gateway and Guardrooms
NO88SE 11.10 88120 83855 Graveyard Walls
NO88SE 11.11 88075 83873 Approach Tunnels
NO88SE 11.12 88156 83863 St Ninian's Chapel
(NO 8813 8385) Dunnottar Castle (NR)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1973)
Dunnottar Castle occupies a coastal promontory of about 1.4 ha protected on all sides by precipitous cliffs and approachable only from the W. The promontory is probably the site of a fort beseiged in 681 and 694 and destroyed by the Vikings between 889 and 900. Although there was possibly a castle here in the 12th century, the visible remains are all likely to be of later date and include an L-plan tower house, erected at the end of the 14th century, extensive domestic buildings, and a chapel and burial ground. (Simpson (1968) gives architectural report, plans, etc.)
RCAHMS 1982; W D Simpson 1968.
Dunnottar Castle, as described and illustrated by Simpson (1968) is privately owned and open to the public.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (N K B) 15 December 1969.
Listed.
Scottish Castle Survey 1988; N Bogdan and I B D Bryce 1991.
Air photograph: AAS/94/16/G32/7.
NMRS, MS/712/21.
(Location cited as NO 8810 8380: nominated as Site of Regional Significance). This castle probably occupies the site of a prehistoric fort; St Ninian established a church here about the beginning of the 5th century and it may also be the 'Dunfoithir' that was besieged in 681. An oval motte was noted on the site in 1970. In the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) 'Dunnottar' was the place where warrants were returnable for the Mearns, and 'le castiel de Dunostre' is mentioned at the beginning of the 13th century. The parish church was on the site by the 13th century. Another castle (castle tower) was built at the end of the 14th century, being mentioned in a Papal Bull of 13 July 1394. Charles II lodged here in 1650 and the Scottish Crown Jewels (The Honours of Scotland) were hidden here in 1651 as it was considered one of the strongest places in the kingdom. In 1685, 167 Covenanters were packed into a small vault ('the Whig's vault') where 9 died due to the terrible conditions. In its final form, the castle was forfeited in 1716 and the roofs and floors removed and sold. In 1925 the systematic repair and excavation of the ruins was begun; the monument is now open to the public.
In its present form the extensive remains date from various periods. The oldest portion is the early 15th century keep with a range of buildings extending to the E containing stables and storehouses. The gatehouse is approached by a steep path and defended by three tiers of splayed gun-loops. The arched entrance is the only opening in a solid wall of masonry set into a cleft in the rock; a very impressive and dominating entrance. The buildings to the NW include a chapel, are grouped around a courtyard and date from the late 16th or early 17th centuries; a huge water tank lies within the courtyard and there is also a bowling green to the W of this later range.
A stone vessel from this site is held in the National Museums of Scotland.
[Air photographic imagery and newspaper references listed].
NMRS, MS/712/35.
NO 881 838 Excavations for a new safety fence along the clifftop were observed and recorded in June and July 2005. No significant archaeological features were found.
Archive to be deposited in NMRS.
Sponsor: Dunnottar Estate.
NO 8812 8384 A watching brief was carried out on the handexcavation of post-holes for a new safety fence along the eastern edge of Dunnottar Castle (NO88SE 11), as a condition of Scheduled Monument Consent.
Only one pit contained any structural evidence, in the form of a flat sandstone block which may have been a base for artillery behind the adjoining bank. This bank, running along the top of the cliff, seems to date from the mid-17th century.
In one post-hole, near to the chapel, fragments of human skull were discovered. Elsewhere there was evidence of domestic refuse in the form of animal bones, mainly cattle and sheep, with some signs of skinning and butchering.
Other material recovered includes mortar and coal fragments, burnt slate, a single clay pipe stem (post-1850s) and a folded copperalloy plate. Much of this material could have been redeposited during excavations and repair works in the 1920s.
Sponsor: Dunecht Estates.
NO 88104 83862 A watching brief was carried out on the 24th April 2007, by Murray Archaeological Services Ltd, during the placement of a new interpretation sign at Dunnottar Castle. The N post setting is 17.5m E of the inner arch of the entrance passage and can be triangulated 16.2m to SW corner of Silver House and 11.85m to NW corner of the building presently used as the Ladies WC. The site of the watching brief lay on the line of the natural route alongside the bowling green from the entrance passage towards the late 16th century buildings around the quadrangle. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded.
Sponsor: Dunecht Estates.
H K Murray, 2007.
Architecture Notes
NO88SE 11.00 88125 83861
EXTERNAL REFERENCE;
Plans:
Dunnottar Castle.
National Museum of Scotland Library (formerly in Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Library).
'Dunnottar Castle' by W. Douglas Simpson, 1931 - Plan and photographs.
'The Castle of Dunnottar and its History' by D.G. Barron - Plan and photographs.
'Scottish Notes and Queries' September 1930 - Drawing of entrance gate by D. MacGibbon.
NMRS Plans:
'Miscellany of the third Spalding Club' 1940 - views from North and South.
MacGibbon and Ross (no date) - Site plan and details.
National Library of Scotland.
Dunnottar Castle.
Sold 1873 to Alexander Innes #78,000.
Murray of Ochtertyre MSS, National Library of Scotland.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
Scottish Magazine, July 1928. Article regarding Dunnottar Castle, page 67.
NMRS Library does not hold this issue of the magazine.
Non-Guardiamship Sites Plan Collectiom, DC23442- DC23444, 1923.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Alcock, L (1981 a)
'Early historic fortifications in Scotland',
Guilbert, G, Hill-fort studies: essays for A H A Hogg, Leicester, 171-26354,
Alcock and Alcock, L and E A (1993 )
'Reconnaissance excavations on Early Historic fortifications and other royal sites in Scotland, 1974-84; A, Excavations and other fieldwork at Forteviot, Perthshire, 1981; B, Excavations at Urquhart Castle, Inverness-shire, 1983; C, Excavations at Dunnottar, Kincardineshire, 1984',
Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 122, 1992, 267-82,
Anon (1979 )
'[Dunnottar castle]',
Scot Fld, 125, 932, 1979, November, 65,
Barron, D G (1925 )
The Castle of Dunnottar and its history,
Edinburgh,
Bogdan and Bryce, N and I B D (1991 )
'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey',
Discovery Excav Scot, 1991, 32,
Campbell, T (1996 )
Standing witnesses: an illustrated guide to the Scottish Covenanters,
Edinburgh, 82-83,
Cruden, S (1960 a)
'The Scottish Castle',
Edinburgh, 123, 140, 185, 223,
Foster, Driscoll and Alcock, S M, S T and L (1985 )
Excavations at Urquhart and Dunnottar Castles, 1983 and 1984: interim reports,
Glasgow,
Fraser, J E (2002 )
The battle of Dunnichen 685,
Stroud, 27, 29,
Hasley, T (1946 )
'Wild fowling with an aeroplane',
Country Life, 1946, December 1946, 1249,
MacGibbon and Ross, D and T (1887-92 )
The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries,
5v, Edinburgh, Vol. 1, 562-73,
McConnochie, A I (comp.) ({190-?} c)
123 views of Royal Deeside,
Aberdeen, 24-25,
PSAS (1927 )
'Donations to and purchases for the Museum and Library',
Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 61, 1926-7, 108,
Pennant, T (1774 a)
A tour in Scotland; MDCCLXIX,
Warrington, 3rd
RCAHMS (1982 c)
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of South Kincardine, Kincardine and Deeside District, Grampian Region,
The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 15, Edinburgh, 31, No. 234,
Scott, H et al (eds.) (1915-61 )
Fasti ecclesiae Scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation,
Revision, Edinburgh, 459,
Scottish Castle Survey (1988 )
'A directory of the owners and occupiers of the castles, manors and 'town houses' {c.1050-c.1707} of Scotland: Grampian Region',
Aberdeen, 44, no. 94/3,
Shepherd, I A G (1986 a)
Exploring Scotland's heritage: Grampian,
Exploring Scotland's heritage series, Edinburgh, 87-8, no. 28,
Simpson, W D (1942 f)
'The development of Dunnottar Castle',
Archaeol J, 98, 1941, 87-98,
Simpson, W D (1937 e)
Dunnottar Castle: historical and descriptive,
Aberdeen,
Simpson, W D (1935 e)
'Dunnottar Castle',
The Deeside Fld, 1st, 7, 1935, 5-7,
Simpson, W D (1968 a)
Dunnottar Castle, Historical and Descriptive,
Aberdeen,
Slezer, J (1693 )
Theatrum Scotiae,
London,
Tranter, N (1962-70 )
'The fortified house in Scotland',
Edinburgh, vol. 4, 153-5,
Werner Company of Chicago (1894 )
Beautiful Britain: the scenery and the splendours of the United Kingdom: views of our stately houses ... royal residences, palaces and castles, bowers and hunting-lodges, river banks and islets, the homes of princes,
London,
Wood, J (2005 a)
'Dunnottar Castle (Dunnottar parish), watching brief'
Discovery Excav Scot, 6, 2005,
Wood, J (2005 b)
'Dunnottar Castle (Dunnottar parish), watching brief'
Discovery Excav Scot, 6, 2005,
NO88SE 11.00 88128 83842
NO88SE 11.01 88028 83884 Benholm's Lodgings
NO88SE 11.02 88065 83843 Smithy
NO88SE 11.03 88047 83857 Keep
NO88SE 11.04 88163 83817 East Guardhouse
NO88SE 11.05 88088 83849 Priest's House
NO88SE 11.06 88077 83825 Stables
NO88SE 11.07 88169 83880 Quadrangle
NO88SE 11.08 88152 83883 Well
NO88SE 11.09 88038 83883 Entrance Gateway and Guardrooms
NO88SE 11.10 88120 83855 Graveyard Walls
NO88SE 11.11 88075 83873 Approach Tunnels
NO88SE 11.12 88156 83863 St Ninian's Chapel
(NO 8813 8385) Dunnottar Castle (NR)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1973)
Dunnottar Castle occupies a coastal promontory of about 1.4 ha protected on all sides by precipitous cliffs and approachable only from the W. The promontory is probably the site of a fort beseiged in 681 and 694 and destroyed by the Vikings between 889 and 900. Although there was possibly a castle here in the 12th century, the visible remains are all likely to be of later date and include an L-plan tower house, erected at the end of the 14th century, extensive domestic buildings, and a chapel and burial ground. (Simpson (1968) gives architectural report, plans, etc.)
RCAHMS 1982; W D Simpson 1968.
Dunnottar Castle, as described and illustrated by Simpson (1968) is privately owned and open to the public.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (N K B) 15 December 1969.
Listed.
Scottish Castle Survey 1988; N Bogdan and I B D Bryce 1991.
Air photograph: AAS/94/16/G32/7.
NMRS, MS/712/21.
(Location cited as NO 8810 8380: nominated as Site of Regional Significance). This castle probably occupies the site of a prehistoric fort; St Ninian established a church here about the beginning of the 5th century and it may also be the 'Dunfoithir' that was besieged in 681. An oval motte was noted on the site in 1970. In the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) 'Dunnottar' was the place where warrants were returnable for the Mearns, and 'le castiel de Dunostre' is mentioned at the beginning of the 13th century. The parish church was on the site by the 13th century. Another castle (castle tower) was built at the end of the 14th century, being mentioned in a Papal Bull of 13 July 1394. Charles II lodged here in 1650 and the Scottish Crown Jewels (The Honours of Scotland) were hidden here in 1651 as it was considered one of the strongest places in the kingdom. In 1685, 167 Covenanters were packed into a small vault ('the Whig's vault') where 9 died due to the terrible conditions. In its final form, the castle was forfeited in 1716 and the roofs and floors removed and sold. In 1925 the systematic repair and excavation of the ruins was begun; the monument is now open to the public.
In its present form the extensive remains date from various periods. The oldest portion is the early 15th century keep with a range of buildings extending to the E containing stables and storehouses. The gatehouse is approached by a steep path and defended by three tiers of splayed gun-loops. The arched entrance is the only opening in a solid wall of masonry set into a cleft in the rock; a very impressive and dominating entrance. The buildings to the NW include a chapel, are grouped around a courtyard and date from the late 16th or early 17th centuries; a huge water tank lies within the courtyard and there is also a bowling green to the W of this later range.
A stone vessel from this site is held in the National Museums of Scotland.
[Air photographic imagery and newspaper references listed].
NMRS, MS/712/35.
NO 881 838 Excavations for a new safety fence along the clifftop were observed and recorded in June and July 2005. No significant archaeological features were found.
Archive to be deposited in NMRS.
Sponsor: Dunnottar Estate.
NO 8812 8384 A watching brief was carried out on the handexcavation of post-holes for a new safety fence along the eastern edge of Dunnottar Castle (NO88SE 11), as a condition of Scheduled Monument Consent.
Only one pit contained any structural evidence, in the form of a flat sandstone block which may have been a base for artillery behind the adjoining bank. This bank, running along the top of the cliff, seems to date from the mid-17th century.
In one post-hole, near to the chapel, fragments of human skull were discovered. Elsewhere there was evidence of domestic refuse in the form of animal bones, mainly cattle and sheep, with some signs of skinning and butchering.
Other material recovered includes mortar and coal fragments, burnt slate, a single clay pipe stem (post-1850s) and a folded copperalloy plate. Much of this material could have been redeposited during excavations and repair works in the 1920s.
Sponsor: Dunecht Estates.
NO 88104 83862 A watching brief was carried out on the 24th April 2007, by Murray Archaeological Services Ltd, during the placement of a new interpretation sign at Dunnottar Castle. The N post setting is 17.5m E of the inner arch of the entrance passage and can be triangulated 16.2m to SW corner of Silver House and 11.85m to NW corner of the building presently used as the Ladies WC. The site of the watching brief lay on the line of the natural route alongside the bowling green from the entrance passage towards the late 16th century buildings around the quadrangle. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded.
Sponsor: Dunecht Estates.
H K Murray, 2007.
Architecture Notes
NO88SE 11.00 88125 83861
EXTERNAL REFERENCE;
Plans:
Dunnottar Castle.
National Museum of Scotland Library (formerly in Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Library).
'Dunnottar Castle' by W. Douglas Simpson, 1931 - Plan and photographs.
'The Castle of Dunnottar and its History' by D.G. Barron - Plan and photographs.
'Scottish Notes and Queries' September 1930 - Drawing of entrance gate by D. MacGibbon.
NMRS Plans:
'Miscellany of the third Spalding Club' 1940 - views from North and South.
MacGibbon and Ross (no date) - Site plan and details.
National Library of Scotland.
Dunnottar Castle.
Sold 1873 to Alexander Innes #78,000.
Murray of Ochtertyre MSS, National Library of Scotland.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
Scottish Magazine, July 1928. Article regarding Dunnottar Castle, page 67.
NMRS Library does not hold this issue of the magazine.
Non-Guardiamship Sites Plan Collectiom, DC23442- DC23444, 1923.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Alcock, L (1981 a)
'Early historic fortifications in Scotland',
Guilbert, G, Hill-fort studies: essays for A H A Hogg, Leicester, 171-26354,
Alcock and Alcock, L and E A (1993 )
'Reconnaissance excavations on Early Historic fortifications and other royal sites in Scotland, 1974-84; A, Excavations and other fieldwork at Forteviot, Perthshire, 1981; B, Excavations at Urquhart Castle, Inverness-shire, 1983; C, Excavations at Dunnottar, Kincardineshire, 1984',
Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 122, 1992, 267-82,
Anon (1979 )
'[Dunnottar castle]',
Scot Fld, 125, 932, 1979, November, 65,
Barron, D G (1925 )
The Castle of Dunnottar and its history,
Edinburgh,
Bogdan and Bryce, N and I B D (1991 )
'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey',
Discovery Excav Scot, 1991, 32,
Campbell, T (1996 )
Standing witnesses: an illustrated guide to the Scottish Covenanters,
Edinburgh, 82-83,
Cruden, S (1960 a)
'The Scottish Castle',
Edinburgh, 123, 140, 185, 223,
Foster, Driscoll and Alcock, S M, S T and L (1985 )
Excavations at Urquhart and Dunnottar Castles, 1983 and 1984: interim reports,
Glasgow,
Fraser, J E (2002 )
The battle of Dunnichen 685,
Stroud, 27, 29,
Hasley, T (1946 )
'Wild fowling with an aeroplane',
Country Life, 1946, December 1946, 1249,
MacGibbon and Ross, D and T (1887-92 )
The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries,
5v, Edinburgh, Vol. 1, 562-73,
McConnochie, A I (comp.) ({190-?} c)
123 views of Royal Deeside,
Aberdeen, 24-25,
PSAS (1927 )
'Donations to and purchases for the Museum and Library',
Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 61, 1926-7, 108,
Pennant, T (1774 a)
A tour in Scotland; MDCCLXIX,
Warrington, 3rd
RCAHMS (1982 c)
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of South Kincardine, Kincardine and Deeside District, Grampian Region,
The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 15, Edinburgh, 31, No. 234,
Scott, H et al (eds.) (1915-61 )
Fasti ecclesiae Scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation,
Revision, Edinburgh, 459,
Scottish Castle Survey (1988 )
'A directory of the owners and occupiers of the castles, manors and 'town houses' {c.1050-c.1707} of Scotland: Grampian Region',
Aberdeen, 44, no. 94/3,
Shepherd, I A G (1986 a)
Exploring Scotland's heritage: Grampian,
Exploring Scotland's heritage series, Edinburgh, 87-8, no. 28,
Simpson, W D (1942 f)
'The development of Dunnottar Castle',
Archaeol J, 98, 1941, 87-98,
Simpson, W D (1937 e)
Dunnottar Castle: historical and descriptive,
Aberdeen,
Simpson, W D (1935 e)
'Dunnottar Castle',
The Deeside Fld, 1st, 7, 1935, 5-7,
Simpson, W D (1968 a)
Dunnottar Castle, Historical and Descriptive,
Aberdeen,
Slezer, J (1693 )
Theatrum Scotiae,
London,
Tranter, N (1962-70 )
'The fortified house in Scotland',
Edinburgh, vol. 4, 153-5,
Werner Company of Chicago (1894 )
Beautiful Britain: the scenery and the splendours of the United Kingdom: views of our stately houses ... royal residences, palaces and castles, bowers and hunting-lodges, river banks and islets, the homes of princes,
London,
Wood, J (2005 a)
'Dunnottar Castle (Dunnottar parish), watching brief'
Discovery Excav Scot, 6, 2005,
Wood, J (2005 b)
'Dunnottar Castle (Dunnottar parish), watching brief'
Discovery Excav Scot, 6, 2005,