Inverallochy Castle facts for kids
Inverallochy Castle is an old, ruined castle located near the village of Inverallochy in the north-east of Scotland. It's a special type of castle known as a courtyard castle. This castle is considered one of the "nine castles of the Knuckle," a group of important castles in this rocky part of Aberdeenshire.
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What is Inverallochy Castle?
Inverallochy Castle is a historic site that is now mostly in ruins. It's called a courtyard castle because its buildings were built around an open central area, like a yard. The castle is found in the Buchan area of north-east Scotland.
Where is Inverallochy Castle Located?
You can find Inverallochy Castle close to the small village of Inverallochy. It's about 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) south of another castle called Cairnbulg Castle. Both castles are near the town of Fraserburgh. A historian named W. Douglas Simpson once described it as one of the "nine castles of the Knuckle." This name refers to the rocky coastline of north-east Aberdeenshire.
What Does Inverallochy Castle Look Like Today?
The castle ruins show buildings arranged around three sides of a courtyard. A strong wall, called a curtain wall, once closed off the south side. A tall tower in the north-east corner still stands almost to its original height. Other parts of the curtain wall are still about 10 meters (33 feet) high. Most of the inner walls have fallen down over time.
There is also evidence of a larger outer courtyard. This area was about 60 meters (197 feet) square and was located to the north and east of the main castle. Today, the ruins of Inverallochy Castle are protected as a scheduled monument. This means they are an important historical site that must be preserved.
Who Built Inverallochy Castle?
It looks like the entire castle was built at one time. Experts believe it was constructed in the early 16th century. It might have been built by Sir William Comyn of Inverallochy. He was a very important person known as the Lord Lyon between 1512 and 1519. The Lord Lyon is the head of Scotland's heraldry, which deals with coats of arms and family histories.
What is the Castle's Story?
For many years, there was a special stone above the castle's entrance. This stone had the family crest, or "arms," of the Comyns carved into it. It also had an inscription. This inscription said that the land around the castle was given to Jordan Comyn. He received it for helping to build Deer Abbey, a famous monastery. This stone was in place until the late 1700s.
