Achanduin Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Achanduin Castle |
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|---|---|
| Achnacroish, Lismore, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. | |
Achanduin Castle, 2005.
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| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Clan MacDougall c.1290 - c.1400. Bishop of Argyll 14? - c.1550. |
| Condition | in ruins. |
| Site history | |
| Built | c.1290. |
| Built by | MacDougal family. |
| In use | not in use. |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Eugenil de Ergadia c.1304. |
Achanduin Castle, also known as Achadun Castle or Acha-Dun, is an old castle now in ruins. It's found on the island of Lismore in Scotland. The castle sits about 5 kilometres west of Achnacroish. It overlooks Loch Linnhe and Bernera Island.
Experts believe the castle dates back to the 1200s. For a long time, people thought the Bishop of Argyll built it. But new research suggests this is not true. It was likely built by the MacDougalls around 1290. They owned it through the 1300s. The Bishops of Argyll might have owned it later, until the mid-1500s. Today, Achanduin Castle is a protected ancient site.
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What Achanduin Castle Looks Like Now
The remains of Achanduin Castle sit on top of a limestone ridge. This ridge is on the north-western shore of Lismore. The castle's south-west and south-east walls have fallen down. However, the north-east and much of the north-west walls are still standing. They are up to 6.7 metres tall.
These outer walls, called curtain walls, are very thick. They are between 1.4 and 2.4 metres wide. They surround an area about 22 metres square. Inside this area, there would have been at least two buildings. These buildings were on either side of a small courtyard. The building on the south-east side was the largest. During digs in 1970 and 1971, two doorways were found. These led from the courtyard into the north-west building.
The Castle's History
For most of the 1200s, the Diocese of Argyll (the church area) and its main church in Lismore were very poor. People once thought the Bishop of Argyll built Achanduin Castle. But new studies show that neither the church nor the Bishop had enough money to build a castle. Recent research points to the MacDougalls as the builders.
Who Built the Castle?
Archaeological digs show that Achanduin Castle was built around 1290. Around this time, the Bishop of Argyll, Laurence de Ergadia, might have been a MacDougall himself. The first written record of the castle is from 1304. This record is about a land grant at Achichendone. In it, Eugenil de Ergadia, who was Lord of Lorn, gave land near the castle to Andrew, Bishop of Argyll. This shows that a MacDougall owned Achanduin Castle at that time.
Changes in Ownership
The MacDougalls lost most of their lands in 1308. This happened after the Battle of the Pass of Brander. They also lost their main castle, Dunstaffnage Castle. When their lands were given to new owners, Lismore was never mentioned. This might mean the MacDougalls were allowed to keep the island.
However, Lismore Isle was part of the dowry for Juliana MacDougall. She married Alexander MacDonald, who became Lord of the Isles in 1293. The MacDougalls, supported by John Balliol (then King of Scots), refused to give Lismore to Alexander MacDonald. In June 1292, he asked King Edward I for help. King Edward agreed with the MacDonalds.
Archaeological findings suggest that the castle was not used much from about 1400 until more recent times.
In 1451, John Maol was given Dunolly and other lands. This was from John Stewart, who was Lord of Lorn. Around this time, it's thought the MacDougalls left Lismore. They moved to the mainland to build Dunollie Castle. By 1452, the Bishop of Argyll seems to have owned Achanduin Castle. He lived there for a short time. It's possible the castle was given to the Bishopric earlier. But there wasn't much need for it. Evidence shows the Bishop of Argyll did not visit Lismore often.
