caithness-1911/05_209

Transcription

[Page] 124 HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.

PARISH OF THURSO.

the arms and shows a breadth of 4 3/4". The thickness of the slab
throughout is 1 1/2".
The inscription, which is somewhat irregularly cut along one side
of the obverse in letters varying from 3" to 4" in height, reads from
the base upwards (the lower part of the shaft containing its com-
mencement is awanting), and has been interpreted
- (GE)RTHI UBIRLAK THITA AFT IKULB FOTHUR SIN
- made overlay this after Ingulf father his

See Antiquaries, xxxi. p. 293 (illus.); Early Christ. Mon., pt. iii.
p. 36 (illus.).
O.S.M., CAITH., v. Visited, 21st September 1910.

447. Mound, "Torran Dubh." - About 1 m. SE. of Mains of Brims,
on the E. side of the farm road, and some 150 yards SE. of the
neighbouring farm-steading, is a grassy mound which is probably a
cairn. Its longest axis is NW. and SE. and it measures some
93' x 47'. The elevation of it is about 5' . It is overgrown with
vegetation and has been under cultivation.
O.S.M., CAITH., iv. ( "Brough"). Visited, 8th August 1910.

448. Mound, "Rossy Hillock," Murkle. - About 1/4 m. NW. of West
Murkle farm-house, at the corner of a field, is a mound which bears
the name of "Rossy Hillock." It probably covers the ruins of a
broch, but it has been long under cultivation and its dimensions are
now quite indefinite.
O.S.M., CAITH., v. ("Cairn"). Visited, 20th August 1910.

SITES.

449. Bishop'a Castle or Scrabster Castle, Thurso. - On a low pro-
montory rock rising from the shore about 1/2 m. to the NW. of Thurso,
are the fragmentary ruins of the Castle of the Bishops of Caithness.
The ruins of a wall at the edge of the rock and the foundations of
one or two buildings which have surrounded the courtyard are all
that remains. A small triangular-headed window enriched with
dog-tooth ornament, taken from the ruins, is built into an outbuilding
at Scrabster House.
The earliest record of the castle seems to be under date 1328,
when Sir Robert of Peblis' chamberlain claimed in his account the
sum of £3, 2s. 4d. as paid for keeping the castle of Scraboster during
the vacancy of the See. In 1455 William, Bishop of Caithness,
granted to his brother Gilbert Mudy, the keeping of the castle of
Scrabestoun and of the surrounding lands confirmed by James III. in
1478. About the year 1544, during the banishment of the bishop
and the temporary appointment of Alexander Gordon to the bishopric,
the castle was seized by the Earl of Caithness. In 1557 Bishop
Robert, on the narrative of numerous benefits received from John,
Earl of Sutherland, appointed that nobleman and his heirs hereditary
constables of the Castle of Scrabster, "situated among the wild and
uncivilised Scots, and in a wintry region." In 1726 it was described
as being wholly in ruins.
An old roadway cut in the face of the bank between the ruins