Description

The monument comprises the remains of a castle of medieval date. It is in the care of the Secretary of State for Scotland and is being re-scheduled to clarify the extent of the protected area.

The monument lies at the crest of a steep natural scarp, at around 240m OD. It comprises Kildrummy Castle, defended to the N and NW by a deep ravine and to the E, S and SW by a ditch. The ditch is now scarcely visible around the S and SW, but measures about 25m in width and about 5m deep on the E. The castle itself measures about 80m E-W by about 80m transversely overall. It is D-shaped, with the straight side backing on to the steep ravine to the NW.

Kildrummy Castle was built in the 13th century and is first recorded in 1296. It was the seat of the earls of Mar and played a prominent part in Scottish history from the 13th century to the 18th, notably during the Wars of Independence, when, in 1306, it was besieged by the field army of Edward I.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular with maximum dimensions of 150m from its northernmost point to its southernmost point and 145m from its easternmost point to its westernmost point, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its contribution to our understanding of medieval domestic and defensive architecture and because of the prominent part that it played in Scottish history from the 13th century to the 18th, notably during the Wars of Independence. Its importance is enhanced by the potential of its below-ground archaeological remains to shed further light on the material culture of its period of occupation and is reflected in its status as a Property in the Care of the Scottish Ministers.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NJ 41 NE 4.

Bibliography:

Apted, M. (1962-3) Excavations at Kildrummy Castle 1952-62, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 96, 208-36.

Cross, M. (1994) Bibliography of Monuments in the Care of the Secretary of State for Scotland, 389-91, Glasgow.

Simpson, W. D. (1923) The Castle of Kildrummy. Aberdeen.

Tabraham, C. (1986) Kildrummy Castel. HMSO: Edinburgh.
Historic Environment Scotland Properties
Kildrummy Castle
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/kildrummy-castle
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Related Designations

KILDRUMMY CASTLEGDL00237
Designation TypeGarden & Designed LandscapeStatusDesignated

Source: Historic Environment Scotland