From this is north Scotland, 26th January 2008
END IN SIGHT FOR CASTLE PROJECT
A historic castle that was rescued from ruin by a Highland architect is now undergoing the final stage of restoration to return it to its former glory.
Built in the late 16th century, Ballone Castle, at Portmahomack, near Tain, in Easter Ross, had been allowed to crumble away, and it is thought that much of the local sandstone, from which it was built, was taken for use in other construction projects. Lachie Stewart, of Anta Architecture, could still see the potential of the derelict building on the cliff-top overlooking the Moray Firth however.
Mr. Stewart, who is originally from Wester Ross, had known the castle for many years and he and his wife, Annie, who runs the design side of their Fearn-based Anta business, bought it in 1989. He said most of the castle, which is based on a Z-plan, with three towers - one round, one square and one rectangular - was built in 1590 by the Dunbars of Tarbat.
In 1623, the property, then known as Castlehaven, was bought by the Mackenzies, who built an extension to provide more kitchen accommodation, but they later moved to Tarbat House at Nigg Bay. Ballone Castle fell into disrepair and, by 1830, it was reduced to a ruin.
Mr. Stewart said they completed most of the restoration work in 1999 and have been living in the magnificent category A listed building for the past seven years. The two-storey 17th- century service block, which includes a brew house and bakery, was still in need of attention.
"We decided last year that we wanted to get on and finish it, so we applied for planning permission and listed building consent for alterations to this part of the property and the erection of a small lean-to extension on the courtyard side," said Mr. Stewart.
Work is now under way and the couple are hoping it will be completed later this year. Mr. Stewart admitted that it had been a major restoration project, which he described as "a labour of love".
Full Version: Ballone Castle, Highland
Here are some pictures I found on the web. It's hard to believe that they are the same structure.
Before:
After:
Very impressive work.
Before:
After:
Very impressive work.
Thanks Byron. Definitely impressive work.
Yes, thanks Byron, here's more info.
Clan MacKenzie Castles
Ballone@Northern Sights
RCAHMS Images on Line
From Canmore;
Clan MacKenzie Castles
Ballone@Northern Sights
RCAHMS Images on Line
From Canmore;
QUOTE
Archaeology Notes
NH98SW 1 92881 83728.
(NH 9288 8373) Ballone Castle (NR)
OS 6" map, (1959)
This castle, built the Z-plan in the late 16th century (Tranter 1962-70), presumably by the Dunbars who held the property from 1507 to the beginning of the 17th century, was acquired by the MacKenzies in 1623 and was occupied until at least 1693 (Fraser 1876), but was ruinous by the mid-18th century (Macfarlane 1906-8).
It has been a very fine example of its kind consisting of a main block, lying N-S and rising to three storeys and a garret, with one square and one round corner tower. Two slender stair turrets occupy re-entrant angles and there are corner turrets at other angles. To the N, contemporary vaulted outbuildings, including a bake-house and other offices, were probably built against a wall which enclosed a small courtyard between the castle and the perpendicular rocks above the sea. The castle is first mentioned in the early 1600's as "the fortalicium" of Easter Tarbat (Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1984) for which property 'Ballone' appears to have been an alternative name (Fraser 1876). On the creation of the Earldom of Cromartie in 1703, the first earl, formerly Sir George MacKenzie, took 'Castlehaven' (from NH98NW 5) as one of his subsidiary titles and transferred that name to the castle. It appears to have been known as 'Castlehaven' for the remainder of the 18th century (OSA 1793), but by 1872 the locally accepted name appears to have been Ballone Castle (Ordnance Survey Name Book [ONB] 1872; MacGibbon and Ross 1887-92).
Statistical Account (OSA) 1793; Name Book 1872; W Fraser 1876; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92; W Macfarlane 1906-8; N Tranter 1962-70; Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1984.
Ballone Castle, as described and illustrated, still stands two storeys high. There are traces of what may have been a curtain wall extending SW from the NW corner of the castle, and also along the cliff-top to the SE.
Visited by OS (A A) 19 September 1972.
Barrel vaulted cellar, partly collapsed and open to erosion edge at SE corner of castle. This is not being renovated.
CFA/MORA Coastal Assessment Survey 1998
Architecture Notes
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: NMRS LIBRARY
Scottish Field, October 1951, p.49 "Balone Castle"-letter to editor
Non-Guardianship Sites Plan Collection, DC23064- DC23068, 1931.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Astaire and Martine, L and R (2000 )
Living in the Highlands,
London, 52-58,
Close-Brooks, J (1986 a)
Exploring Scotland's heritage: the Highlands,
Exploring Scotland's heritage series, Edinburgh, 92-3, No. 38,
Close-Brooks, J (1995 a)
The Highlands,
Exploring Scotland's Heritage series, ed. by Anna Ritchie, Edinburgh, (no. 45), 23, 101, 102-3, 2nd
Coventry, M (2001 )
The castles of Scotland
Musselburgh, 73, 3rd
Edinburgh Architectural Association (1879 )
2, 1878-9, Sketch Book, Edinburgh,
Fraser, W (1876 )
The Earls of Cromartie: their kindred, country and correspondence,
2v, Edinburgh, Vol. 1, lxiv, cciv; Vol. 2, 426-9,
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. 2, 248-51,
Macfarlane, W (1906-8 )
Geographical collections relating to Scotland,
Mitchell, A and Clark, J T, 3v, Edinburgh, Vol. 1, 215,
OSA (1791-9 )
The statistical account of Scotland, drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes,
Sinclair, J (Sir), Edinburgh, Vol. 6, 426-7,
Ordnance Survey ( )
Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey
Book No. 30, 44,
RCAHMS (1979 a)
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty District, Highland Region,
The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 6, Edinburgh, 29, No. 250,
Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot (1984 g)
Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, AD 1608-1620. Volume 7,
Thomson, J M, Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, No. 283,
Stell, G (1986 b)
'Architecture and society in Easter Ross before 1707',
Baldwin, J R, Firthlands of Ross and Sutherland,, Edinburgh, 112, 115,
Tranter, N (1962-70 )
'The fortified house in Scotland',
Edinburgh, Vol. 5, 147-8,
NH98SW 1 92881 83728.
(NH 9288 8373) Ballone Castle (NR)
OS 6" map, (1959)
This castle, built the Z-plan in the late 16th century (Tranter 1962-70), presumably by the Dunbars who held the property from 1507 to the beginning of the 17th century, was acquired by the MacKenzies in 1623 and was occupied until at least 1693 (Fraser 1876), but was ruinous by the mid-18th century (Macfarlane 1906-8).
It has been a very fine example of its kind consisting of a main block, lying N-S and rising to three storeys and a garret, with one square and one round corner tower. Two slender stair turrets occupy re-entrant angles and there are corner turrets at other angles. To the N, contemporary vaulted outbuildings, including a bake-house and other offices, were probably built against a wall which enclosed a small courtyard between the castle and the perpendicular rocks above the sea. The castle is first mentioned in the early 1600's as "the fortalicium" of Easter Tarbat (Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1984) for which property 'Ballone' appears to have been an alternative name (Fraser 1876). On the creation of the Earldom of Cromartie in 1703, the first earl, formerly Sir George MacKenzie, took 'Castlehaven' (from NH98NW 5) as one of his subsidiary titles and transferred that name to the castle. It appears to have been known as 'Castlehaven' for the remainder of the 18th century (OSA 1793), but by 1872 the locally accepted name appears to have been Ballone Castle (Ordnance Survey Name Book [ONB] 1872; MacGibbon and Ross 1887-92).
Statistical Account (OSA) 1793; Name Book 1872; W Fraser 1876; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92; W Macfarlane 1906-8; N Tranter 1962-70; Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1984.
Ballone Castle, as described and illustrated, still stands two storeys high. There are traces of what may have been a curtain wall extending SW from the NW corner of the castle, and also along the cliff-top to the SE.
Visited by OS (A A) 19 September 1972.
Barrel vaulted cellar, partly collapsed and open to erosion edge at SE corner of castle. This is not being renovated.
CFA/MORA Coastal Assessment Survey 1998
Architecture Notes
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: NMRS LIBRARY
Scottish Field, October 1951, p.49 "Balone Castle"-letter to editor
Non-Guardianship Sites Plan Collection, DC23064- DC23068, 1931.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Astaire and Martine, L and R (2000 )
Living in the Highlands,
London, 52-58,
Close-Brooks, J (1986 a)
Exploring Scotland's heritage: the Highlands,
Exploring Scotland's heritage series, Edinburgh, 92-3, No. 38,
Close-Brooks, J (1995 a)
The Highlands,
Exploring Scotland's Heritage series, ed. by Anna Ritchie, Edinburgh, (no. 45), 23, 101, 102-3, 2nd
Coventry, M (2001 )
The castles of Scotland
Musselburgh, 73, 3rd
Edinburgh Architectural Association (1879 )
2, 1878-9, Sketch Book, Edinburgh,
Fraser, W (1876 )
The Earls of Cromartie: their kindred, country and correspondence,
2v, Edinburgh, Vol. 1, lxiv, cciv; Vol. 2, 426-9,
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. 2, 248-51,
Macfarlane, W (1906-8 )
Geographical collections relating to Scotland,
Mitchell, A and Clark, J T, 3v, Edinburgh, Vol. 1, 215,
OSA (1791-9 )
The statistical account of Scotland, drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes,
Sinclair, J (Sir), Edinburgh, Vol. 6, 426-7,
Ordnance Survey ( )
Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey
Book No. 30, 44,
RCAHMS (1979 a)
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty District, Highland Region,
The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 6, Edinburgh, 29, No. 250,
Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot (1984 g)
Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, AD 1608-1620. Volume 7,
Thomson, J M, Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, No. 283,
Stell, G (1986 b)
'Architecture and society in Easter Ross before 1707',
Baldwin, J R, Firthlands of Ross and Sutherland,, Edinburgh, 112, 115,
Tranter, N (1962-70 )
'The fortified house in Scotland',
Edinburgh, Vol. 5, 147-8,
I'm much impressed with the work done!! Thanks for posting this guys
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