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Remains of a castle. Old Slains Castle is a tower house of 14th Century date. Traces of the barmekin wall can be seen in the cliff face to the south and southeast of the towerhouse but nothing remains of the gateway and wall. The ditch, which was partly natural, has been mutilated by later constructions. The outer ward is surrounded by steep natural slopes surmounted by a 'rampart' of earth and some stones, about 3m wide and 1m max height, which survives only to the west and south. (This is a feal dyke, in parts on a wide base.) Archaeological potential of inner ward probably low as this part of peninsula is mutilated by the modern A-frame house and road. However, large parts of the outer ward and possible ditches remain (but with septic tank runs in latter). Old track and another feal dyke run upslope to west of outer ditch, to south of road. Two areas of fallen stonework on lower coastal slope to north of inner ward. The origins of the castle are unclear but may have been built by the Earls of Buchan or the Comyns. The castle passed to the Hays in early 14th Century when William Hay was created Lord High Constable of Scotland by King Robert and was granted the lands of Slains. It became an Earldom in 1452. In the 16th Century the Hays allied themselves with the uprising against James VI. After defeating his opponents at Glenlivet, King James marched on and destroyed the castle in 1594. Two cannon lie in the area to the east of the castle, one of which has been mounted on a modern wooden gun mount. Both appear to have been recovered from the sea. An archaeological observation was carried out in April 1996 by MAS over the extension to no.13 Old Castle. Two watching briefs were carried out in May and June 2007 during groundwork for an extension to no.19 Old Castle (NK03SE0042).
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Historic Environment Records (HER)