argyll-1971/01-199

Transcription

No.308


CASTLES, TOWER-HOUSES
AND FORTIFICATIONS




308. Airds Castle, Carradale. This castle (pl.53B) occu-
pies the summit of a rock outcrop overlooking the W.
shore of Kilbrannan Sound, about 400m S. of Carradale
Harbour. The structure is very ruinous, the only surviv-
ing remains comprising the scanty fragments of a stone
curtain-wall. This wall appears originally to have enclosed
the entire summit, which is of irregular pentagonal plan
and measures 67m from N. to S. by 24 m transversely
over all (Fig. 161) The ground falls away steeply from
the summit on all sides except the NW., where there is a
broad flat-bottomed ditch which may in part be of arti-
ficial origin. The principal entrance to the castle was
probably situated towards the centre of the W. side and
reached by means of a track ascending the western slopes
of the outcrop, but an apparent gap (A on Fig.161) in the
opposite sector of the curtain wall may mark the site of a
postern-gateway.
The curtain wall itself (P.1 53A) is constructed for the
most part of local flagstone-rubble laid in mud mortar,
but close to the site of the supposed postern-doorway
traces of lime mortar can be seen. The wall has a thick-
ness of about 1.5m and now rises to a maximum height
of 3.4m. There are no visible traces of any internal
buildings, but a small circular reed-grown depression (B)
may represent the site of a well.
It is not known when this castle was erected, but all the
existing remains appear to be of a medieval date. The site
seems to have come into the possession of the Crown at
the end of the 15th century following the forfeiture of
John, Lord of the Isles. In 1498 James IV granted the
"fortalicium de Ardcardane", together with other
property in the same area, to an Ayrshire landholder, Sir
Adam Reid of Stairquhite and Barskimming. 1 In the
middle of the 16th century the same lands formed part of
the barony of Bar, in North Kintyre, then held by the
MacDonalds of Dunnyveg, while in 1605 they were again
in the possession of the Reids of Barskimming. 2

820383 ccxlii Aug 1965


309. Dunaverty Castle. The scanty remains of this
castle (Pl. 53C) occupy a conspicuous headland of con-
glomerate rock which projects into the sound of Sanda
between Dunaverty Bay and Brunerican Bay. The head-
land forms a natural stronghold, being sea-girt on three
sides and approachable only from the N., where a narrow
path links it to the mainland.
The principal means of defence appears to have been a
wall of enclosure whoses course was dictated by the con-
figuration of the site, but it is possible that those sections


No.309

of the perimeter that appeared naturally impregnable
were left undefended. Thus, few traces of masonry can be
seen on the E. and S. sides of the headland, where there
is a precipitous drop to the sea, but close to the SW. tip
of the promontory there is a short section of wall evidently
designed to seal off a possible line of ascent in this quarter.
Further fragments of curtain wall may be seen along the
NW. perimeter, enclosing a fairly level platform which
lies below the summit on this side of the headland.
Towards the SE. side of this platform a small circular
rock-cut depression (A on Fig.162) may represent the
site of a well. All the surviving fragments of curtain wall
are of roughly-coursed rubble masonry laid in a line of
mortar (Pl. 53D); the best preserved section appears to
have had a thickness of at least 1.5m and a height of
more than 3.4m.
The summit itself, although comparatively level, is
quite small in area. Access was evidently gained to it
from the NW. platform by means of a narrow, roughly-
formed, rock-cut staircase (B) which terminated in a
small chamber (C) occupying the E. extremity of the
summit. This chamber was formed partly by quarrying,
its E. and S. walls having been founded upon a rock
substructure which is still preserved. There are no other
identifiable remains of buildings upon the summit, except
along the NW. side, where there are fragmentary traces
of a wall enclosure. It is possible, however, that a sub-
rectangular depression (D) in the centre of the SW.
portion of the summit, measuring about 6.1m by 4.0m
over all, represents the site of a former building.
There is insufficient evidence to determine the precise
age of the remains described above, but they may
tentatively be ascribed to the medieval period,
The fortress first comes on record at the beginning of
the 8th century, when it formed a principal stronghold
of the race of Gabran, grandson of Fergus of Dalriada.
Dunaverty was seized by Scottish rebels with English help,
and recovered by the Crown, in the 1240's, and was
garrisoned by Alexander III on the occasion of King
Hakon's expedition to the Isles in 1263. The castle played
some part in the Wars of Independence, and during the late
14th century, and for the greater part of the 15th century,
was held by the MacDonalds of Islay and Kintyre on
behalf of the Lord of the Isles. Upon the forfeiture of
John, Lord of the Isles, Dunaverty passed to the Crown,
but in the summer of 1494 it was temporarily re-possessed
by Sir John MacDonald of Dunnyveg, who is said to
have hanged its royal governor over the walls in the sight
of James IV himself.
The castle was repaired by the Crown in 1539-42 and
subsequently suffered damage during the Earl of Sussex's
raid upon Kintyre in 1558. The most important event in
the history of Dunaverty was General Leslie's siege and
subsequent massacre of a rotyalist garrison under the
command of Archibald MacDonald of Sanda in 1647.

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1 RMS, ii (1424-1513), nos. 2454 and 2500; McKerral,
Kintyre, 7.
2 Origines Parochiales, ii, part I, 25.

Transcribe other information

Foot of centre page is No. 157

Foot of right hand side page
1 RMS, ii (1424-1513), nos. 2454 and 2500; McKerral,
Kintyre, 7.
2 Origines Parochiales, ii, part I, 25.

Transcriber's notes

the page has text on the left side and the right side. I have transcribed the left hand side page ABOVE the text on right hand side of page.