sutherland-1911/02_239

Transcription

INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS, ETC., IN COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. -- [Page] 183

PARISH OF TONGUE.

CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC STRUCTURES.

525. Tongue House. - This mansion is situated on the eastern
shore of the Kyle of Tongue, about 1 m. No. of Tongue. The older
portion, to which wings have been added, is a long, low, oblong build-
ing of one storey, with windows set in the roof. Three decorated
pediments, which probably surmounted dormer windows before the
roof was altered and buttresses added, are built into the wall of the
dining-room. One pediment over the mantel-piece bears an orna-
mental shield, charged with the Mackay arms, viz., three boars' heads
couped and muzzled: in the middle base a dexter hand fessways, couped
at the wrist, holding a dagger erect. Crest above the shield, a stag's
head pierced through the neck by an arrow. At the top and sides of
the shields are the initials DMR. On the sloping sides of the pedi-
ment is the motto MANU FORTI, and against them two lions, bear-
ing on their heads two thistles, whose stems cross at the apex. A
second pediment bears the initials AMR, and the third the two
foregoing sets of initials in a cypher between the date 1678, which is
probably the date of the erection of the house. On the skew that
finishes the E. end of the N. gable of the more modern wing of the
building are cut the dates 1678 and 1750.
See Cast. and Dom. Arch., iv. p. 372 (illus.); Origines, ii. pt. ii.
p. 717; Sutherland and the Reay Country, p. 61 (illus.); The Book
of Mackay, p. 282 (illus.).
O.S.M., SUTH., xvi. Visited, 30th May 1909.

526. Castle Varrich or Bhurraich. - The ruins of this castle stand
on the head of a promontory on the E. side and near the head of the
Kyle of Tongue. It has been a small square tower of two storeys in
height, the masonry of which has been coarse and irregular. There
are no signs of a stair to the first floor. Nothing but the outer walls
now remain, 4' 6" in thickness. A great antiquity has been attri-
buted to the castle, which the character of the structure does not
warrant. It is fully described in Cast. and Dom. Arch., quoted infra.
See Cast. and Dom. Arch., iii. p. 253 (plan and illus.); New Stat.
Acct. Suth., etc., xv. p. 175; Origines, ii. pt. ii. p. 717; Sutherland and
the Reay Country, pp. 27 (illus.) and 113.
O.S.M., SUTH., xxv. Visited, 1st June 1909.

DEFENSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS.

527. Broch, Dun na Maigh. - On a prominent rock which rises from
the ridge dividing the Kinloch River (Amhainn Ceann Locha) from
the Allt Ach' an t-Strathain, at the upper end of the Kyle of Tongue,
stand the ruins of Dun na Maigh. The situation is a very strong one.
On the W. the rock rises precipitously for 50' or more, and on the E.,
where the entrance faces, the slope is abrupt. On the N. and S. the
approach along the ridge is easier, and for defence in these directions
walls have been built along the edge, enclosing the more level areas
immediately adjoining the broch. The entrance has been from the