Description

The monument is the remains of the palace, or castle, of the Bishops of Moray at Kinneddar. It survives as buried remains recorded through a combination of documentary evidence, cropmarks recorded on aerial photographs, small-scale excavation and geophysical survey. The monument lies on low-lying level ground at about 5m above sea level.

Kinneddar was one of the seats of the Bishops of Moray before the 13th century. Richard, Bishop of Moray (1187-1203), is known to have resided at Kineddar, and in 1280 Bishop Archibald extended or rebuilt the castle there. The castle appears to have remained in use until the 14th century but was abandoned by the 17th century.

In 1734 the palace still had its foundations and fortifications "so entire as to be easily traceable". The New Statistical Account (1840-65) describes it as hexagonal in shape with a tower in the centre, defended by walls and ditches. By 1842, the walls had been levelled and the ditches filled in. During this levelling work it is reported that large quantities of ashes, charcoal, broken urns and human bones were found, especially under the earthen ramparts.

The site of the castle was confirmed by excavation in 1936 and has been further shown by aerial photography, small-scale excavation and geophysical survey. Geophysical survey undertaken in 2015 and 2016 suggests the castle is rectangular in plan, rather than hexagonal as previously reported. Evidence from survey and excavation within the surrounding area, indicates the palace lies within a 6th or 7th century AD vallum and therefore may overlie evidence for early ecclesiastical activity.

The scheduled area is irregular. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduled area runs up to but does not include the graveyard wall on the south, the post and wire fence on the west and the fences and property boundaries on the north. The above ground elements of all further fences are excluded from the scheduling to allow for their maintenance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as the remains of the palace, or castle, of the Bishops of Moray. It may overlie earlier ecclesiastical activity. It makes a significant contribution to our understanding of medieval high-status buildings in Moray, particularly the construction, form and function of bishop's palaces. Small-scale excavation and geophysical survey indicate good potential for the survival of structural and other archaeological and environmental deposits relating to the palace, its construction, use and abandonment, as well as any earlier activity. Bishop's palaces of the 12th and 13th centuries are extremely rare in Scotland. Its importance is further enhanced by its very close proximity to the site of the parish church and former cathedral of Kinneddar, from which a large collection of Pictish and early Christian carved stones has been recovered, and evidence that it may have been a site of ecclesiastical importance since the 6th or 7th centuries AD. The monument can add to our understanding of medieval domestic architecture, social and economic history, medieval ecclesiastic history and material culture. Further research and investigation of the surviving remains has the potential to explain the chronology of this site and its development as an important ecclesiastical site.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Centre for Field Archaeology, University of Edinburgh. Kineddar Archaeological Field Evaluation, Lossiemouth, Moray District: Data Structure Report (Report No. 243: Edinburgh 1995)

trove.scot

https://www.trove.scot/place/16459/

HER/SMR Reference

NJ26NW0001

Source: Historic Environment Scotland