OS1/2/57/121
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASTLE SWEEN (In Ruins) | Castle Sween Castle Sween Castle Sween Castle Sween Castle Sween Castle Swin Castle Swein Castle Sween |
Neil McNeill - occ [occupier] of farm. New Stat. [Statistical] Account. Extracts of South Knapdale. Admiralty Chart. Estate Map. Fullarton's Gazetteer Origines Parochiales Johnston's County Map |
179 | Castle "Sween" or "Swen" all in ruins, stands ona rock close to the eastern shore of "Loch Swen". The walls are still high and are several feet thick and though marked by age are still in tolerable preservation. "Macmillan's Tower", the north-east wing of the pile, history records as having been built at a subsequent point. There is a "draw well" within the pile close to the north-east angle. |
| MACMILLAN'S TOWER [Castle Sween] | Macmillan's Tower | 179 | "Macmillan's Tower", the north-east wing of the pile [Castle Sween], history records as having been built at a subsequent point. | |
| WELL [Castle Sween] | Draw Well. | 179 | There is a "draw well" within the pile [Castle Sween] close to the north-east angle. | |
| CASTLESWEEN | Castle Sween Castle Sween Castle Sween Castlesween |
N. McNeill - occupier D. Graham - Dunrostan Estate Map. Coy. [County] Directory of Scotland. |
179 | A farm house with offices close to the old Castle [Castle Sween]. |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 121Ph. [Parish] of North Knapdale Argyllshire
"The most interesting antiguity in the Ph. [Parish] is Castle Swen
which stands on a rock close to the sea & commands a very
extensive view of the country. The date of its erection is not
known; but is evidently the work of different ages. The walls
display great strength of masonry. They are about 7 feet in
thickness, 35 ft in height & including Macmillan's Tower.
Probably Macmillan's Tower was built much later as its walls
are considerably thinner. Immemorial tradition bears that
the Castle was built by Suine Mac righ Lochlan, Swein or Sweno, Prince of Denmark, - towards the
[beginning of the] 11th Century. This fortress commanded the entrance to Lochswen & was regarded as the key of the Districts
of Knapdale & Glassary, & as such it was deemed a position of the greatest importance In the end of the
13th Century, Knapdale appears in the posession of a certain Sweins de Ergadia, known in tradition
as Swen Ruadh or Swen the Red, Thane of Glassary & Knapdale & from him it is said the Castle
took its name & there are strong grounds for thinking that he was ancestor of the Macneills".
New Stat. [Statistical] Account.
[Well] in G.T. [German Text]
The word "Draw" omitted
for want of room to write it
A. Gwin Srj RE [Alexander Gwin Sergeant Royal Engineers]
Transcribers who have contributed to this page.
hillhere
Location information for this page.
Linked mapsheets.
