Deskie Castle facts for kids
Deskie Castle was once a medieval tower house, which is a strong, tall building used as a home and for defense. It's believed to have stood near Bridgend of Livet in Glenlivet, a beautiful area in Moray, Scotland. Not much of it remains today, but its story is still interesting!
Contents
The Story of Deskie Castle
What We Know About Its Past
Not much is known about the exact history of Deskie Castle. It was a long time ago! However, there is an old traditional rhyme that helps us remember it. This rhyme talks about three castles in the Glenlivet area:
Glenlivet it has castles three,
Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie.
This rhyme suggests that Deskie Castle was an important landmark, just like the other two castles, Drumin and Blairfindy.
What's Left of Deskie Castle Today?
The "Deskie Castle" Knoll
Today, you won't find a tall castle building. Instead, there's an irregularly shaped oval hill, or "knoll," that local people call 'Deskie Castle'. This knoll has been shaped and flattened a bit by people in the past.
It stretches about 90 meters (about 295 feet) from northwest to southeast. It's also about 36 meters (about 118 feet) wide from northeast to southwest. The knoll stands about 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) high.
Traces of Old Walls
If you look closely, you can still see hints of old walls around the edges of the knoll, especially on the west and north sides. There's also evidence of another wall, about 1 meter (3.3 feet) wide, that once crossed the very top of the hill.
The knoll is on a slightly boggy, or marshy, slope that faces southwest. A natural steep slope, called an escarpment, protects it on the north and east sides.
Mysterious Earth Banks
Away from the main knoll, on the west and northwest, there are three separate, short sections of earthen banks. Each of these banks is about 9 meters (about 29.5 feet) wide and 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) high. It's not clear if these banks once formed a complete outer defense around the knoll.
Even though these earthworks don't look exactly like a typical "motte and bailey" castle (a common type of early medieval castle), experts believe they might be the remains of a medieval stronghold. This is because of the old stories and traditions linked to the site.
A Protected Site
Deskie Castle is now a scheduled monument. This means it's a nationally important archaeological site that is protected by law. This helps make sure that these ancient remains are preserved for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
