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Remains of castle, dating from the 15th century. The earliest part is the Preston Tower built in 1420 which lies in the northeast corner to the east of the main entrance. The massive walls of the old tower are up to 3m thick. At ground level was a vaulted cellar with the hall and private chambers above. This was surrounded by service ranges which were removed when the castle was extended by William Forbes in 1584 to form a rectangular block enclosing a courtyard with well. The gatehouse has an arched portal protected by drum towers with gun-loops. The east range was domestic in nature with the bakehouse at the south end with two domed ovens, behind which was a pit-prison. The main suite of rooms occupied the south side of the courtyard, and the upper floors of the west and north range. A round tower sits in the northwest corner. Vestiges of a formal garden remain to the west and south sides of the castle and forecourt, with bee-boles in the forecourt wall. In the northeast corner of the forecourt are the remains of a dovecot with stone nesting boxes. The castle was lived in until the 19th century when it slowly fell into disrepair. A watching brief carried out by Kirkdale Archaeology in February 2011 during excavation of a drainage trench within the forecourt on the north side of the castle close to the ticket office recorded a path shown on 1930s plan of the castle. The Masons' Mark Project has recorded a number of marks around the castle: one in the Preston Tower, and marks of five other masons on the 1584 parts of the castle. The initials of masternason Thomas Leiper are carved on a Skewputt.
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Historic Environment Records (HER)