caithness-1911/05_162

Transcription

INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS, ETC., IN COUNTY OF CAITHNESS. -- [Page] 85

PARISH OF LATHERON.

on the E. The neck which links the promontory to the land is
traversed by a trench cut through the rock some 25' in width. In
rear of this has stood the keep, the foundations of which alone are
visible. It has been a rectangular structure, measuring over all some
44' x 28' . The castle is said to have belonged to the Crowner Gunn
in the 15th century.
See The Gunns, p. 190.
O.S.M. CAITH., xxxiv. Visited, 16th July 1910.

307. Knockinnon Castle. - On the top of a prominent rock (Cnoc
Heara), which rises on the W. side of the high road about 1 1/2 m. N. of
Dunbeath, are the mere foundations of this castle. In plan it con-
sisted of a small rectangular keep in the centre, with numerous out-
buildings. There appears to be no historical reference to it, and it is
doubted if the castle was ever completed. In the "Geographical
Description of the Parish of Lathron" (circa, 1726), given in
Macfarlane's Geographical Collections, there is a statement in the
following terms which evidently refers to it: " About 3 furlongs to
the S. of the house of Lathronwheel, upon a rising ground, there
stands the beginning of a great fabrick; it is certain that it came
never a much greater length than what is now seen of it. I could
get no certain account who he was that began this great design."
See Cast. and Dom. Arch., iv. p. 298 (plan) ; Macfarlane's Geog.
Coll. i. p. 163.
O.S.M., CAITH., xxxix. and xliii. Visited, 28th July 1910.

308. Berriedale Castle. - On a tongue of rock projecting across the
mouth of the Berriedale River are the remains of Berriedale Castle.
The promontory on which the castle stood has been cut off from the
high ground in rear of it by a deep ditch across the neck. There has
been a double row of buildings along the promontory separated by
a narrow courtyard, the whole enclosed within a wall of enceinte
still partly traceable. The remains are very scanty.
Berriedale belonged in the 14th century to Rannald or Reginald
Cheyne, thereafter passing, through marriage, to the Sutherlands, and
subsequently to the Oliphants by the marriage of William Oliphant
with Christina Sutherland. In 1526 Andrew Oliphant sold the
property, along with his other possessions in Caithness, as he was
unable to enjoy them in peace, to his uncle Laurence, Lord Oliphant,
and in 1606 his successor sold Berriedale, etc., to the Earl Of Caithness.
See Cast. and Dom Arch., iv. p. 297 (plan) ; Macfarlane's Geog.
Coll., i. p. 165; Origines, ii. pt. ii. p. 764 ; Reg. Mag. Sig. 18th June
1606.
O.S.M., CAITH., xlii. Visited, 23rd July 1910.

309. Chapel and Graveyard, Ballachly, Stemster. - Situated in the
midst of cultivated fields, some 300 yards WNW. of Ballachly, is
a graveyard enclosed and apparently still used. The rank growth of
grass and weeds quite obscures any old tombstones there may be .
This is said to be the site of a chapel.
O.S.M., CAITH., xxviii. Visited, 15th July 1910.

310. Chapel and Graveyard, Brae na h-Eaglais, Langwell Water. -
At the junction of the Long Burn with the Langwell Water, on the top