Description

The monument is a castle consisting of a towerhouse 10.7m square and 17.5m high with the remains of an irregular barmkin on the SE and rock-cut ditch on the NW; it stands on a low rock platform at the head of Loch Buie. The surviving fabric is early 15th century though additions and alterations were made particularly to the upper works prior to abandonment in 1752.

The tower has 3 main stories and a garret, with two entresol floors built over the haunches of the barrel-vaults covering the ground and first floors, and remains of two 16th century cap-houses. Numerous architectural details survive including original battlements and crenellations, and corbelled latrine-chutes.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The tower is of national importance as a prime example of an early 15th-century fortified domestic building, with later additions, surviving in a state of near completeness. Together with its associated barmkin it is also of national importance because of its potential, through excavation, for increasing our understanding of the social and economic history and material culture of western Scotland from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The historical importance of the site is enhanced by the part that it played in the wars of religion of the 17th century, and by the visit made to it by Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell in October 1773.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
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Source: Historic Environment Scotland