Angus HER - NO55SW0013 - BALGAVIES CASTLE

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNO55SW0013
NameBALGAVIES CASTLE
NRHE Card No.NO55SW13
NRHE Numlink 34904
HES SM No. 5448
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Incomplete
Details Remains of a castle. It was razed to the foundations by James VI during his journey to the north after the defeat of Argyll in 1593. The antiquarian Warden describes it as formerly moated and with 'the foundations and some arches' surviving. The NSA also mentions a 'solitary arch'. When visited by the OS in 1958, no arches were recorded. The remains are situated on a natural knoll, and are thickly overgrown with vegetation. No moat was noted in 1958 but the investigators concluded that is not unlikely that this site was ditched around the base of the knoll. The remains consist of two barrel vaults lying east-west and forming a whole rectangular area of 8 x 6 m, each being 4 m wide and 2.5 m high. A small rectilinear window exists in the north wall of the west vault showing the walls to be 1.3 m thick. The floors of the vaults are sunk 0.8 m below the outer ground level. The vaults, in crumbling condition, are of coursed rubble construction. The course of a wall was faintly traced among the undergrowth parallel to, and 1.5 m distant from, the south front of the vaults. It was again noted on the west side of the vaults 3 m from them. A fragment of a curving wall was noted circa 12 m southwest of the vaults and may possibly be the foundation of a round tower.
Last Update28/05/2021
Updated Byjnicholson
CompilerCP
Date of Compilation23/11/2009

Google Map for NO55SW0013

National Grid Reference: NO 5396 5159



Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
MOATS SITE OFB75
VAULTSBARRELREMAINS OFC100
WINDOWSRECTANGULAR D100
TOWERSROUNDREMAINS OFE85
CASTLES REMAINS OFA100