Coeffin facts for kids

Castle Coeffin ruins

Castle Coeffin is an old ruined castle on Lismore island in Scotland. Lismore is a small island in a sea loch called Loch Linnhe. The castle stands on a rocky point on the island's north-west side. It looks out across the water towards a place called Glensanda. This castle has a long history and some interesting stories!

A Glimpse into Castle Coeffin's Past

Castle Coeffin was built a very long time ago, in the 1200s. It was likely built by the powerful MacDougall family of Lorn. Before the castle was built, there might have been a Viking fort on the same spot.

The Legend of the Name

The name Coeffin might come from a Danish prince named Caifen. A sad story says that his sister's ghost haunted the castle. She only found peace when her remains were taken back to Norway to be buried next to her true love.

Why Lismore Was Important

Lismore island was a very important place for the MacDougalls. It was home to St. Moluag's Cathedral. This cathedral was the main church for the Bishop of Argyll, a very important religious leader.

Early Records of the Castle

The first time Castle Coeffin is mentioned in writing was around 1469 or 1470. At that time, it was given to a knight named Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy. He was part of the Campbell family. It is thought that people stopped living in the castle after the Middle Ages.

What the Castle Looks Like Now

Today, Castle Coeffin is mostly ruins. It has the remains of a long, rectangular main building called a hall-house. There is also an oddly shaped outer area called a bailey.

The Great Hall

The main building, or great hall, is shaped like an uneven rectangle. It measures about 20.3 by 10.4 metres (67 by 34 ft). The walls of this hall are very thick, from 2.1 to 2.4 metres (6 ft 11 in to 7 ft 10 in) wide.

Other Castle Parts

The bailey, or outer courtyard, was mostly built later than the main hall. An outside staircase probably connected the entrance in the north-east wall to the bailey. Another door allowed people to get to the sea on the south-west side.

Other Interesting Things Nearby

Near the castle, there are a few other interesting historical features.

Ancient Fish Trap

In a small bay to the south-east of the castle, you can find a tidal fish trap. We don't know exactly how old it is, but it's very ancient.

Old Stone Fort

To the north-east of the castle, there are also the remains of an old fort made of stone walls.

Castle Rachal

An old book from 1892, called the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, mentions a "Castle Rachal." It describes it as a very old Scandinavian fort on the north-west side of Lismore island. This description sounds very much like Castle Coeffin itself! It was said to be about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the north-eastern tip of the island.