Knock Castle (Aberdeenshire)

Knock Castle is a ruined tower house in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. It is typical of the traditional type of residence of a laird, a Scottish landed gentleman. The Castle sits in a strong position on a knoll in a field on the south side of Craig of the Knock, at the entrance to Glen Muick. It is located at gbmapping|NO352951, about convert|1|mi|km west of the town of Ballater, and about convert|6|mi|km east of Balmoral, just off the A93. The castle is in the care of Historic Scotland.

Description

Knock Castle is a four-storey ruin, dating from approximately 1600. The rectangular keep strongly resembles that of a Borders pele tower, and measures about convert|27|ft|m by convert|22|ft|m, with walls of about convert|4|ft|m thick. The external walls of the castle survive intact, although the tower is roofless. An unusual feature at Knock are the defensive shot holes, for pistols, under each of the numerous windows, each of these having a defensive grate protecting them. The shot holes are all angled to the ground, with the centre one pointing forward and the two outer holes pointing slightly askew.

The inside of the tower is entirely ruined, but the remains of a vaulted basement, used as a kitchen, and a spiral turnpike staircase can still be seen. At the top of the stair a lookout turret or cap house is still visible.

The foundations of an enclosing courtyard wall are still visible. The strong wooden door, protected by an iron yett, opened on to the north side of the surrounding courtyard. Various out buildings, including a brewery, stables, or bake house, for example, would have been set around the perimeter wall. A short distance to the west is a motte, or mound, with the possible foundations of a 12th century timber stronghold, known as the Old Castle Knock. Belonging to the Earls of Mar, this structure was destroyed in 1590 by the Clan Chattan (Macintosh). What little remains of the site appears to have evidence of a corn-drying kiln within. [cite web |url=http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.newcandig_details_gis?inumlink=32456 |title=Knock Castle, NMRS Number: NO39NE 4 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) |accessdate=2008-07-17]

History

Knock Castle was granted to the Gordons of Abergeldie by the 4th Earl of Huntly, after the battle of Corrichie. Fought on the 28 October 1562, the Gordons were defeated by the forces of Mary, Queen of Scots during her supression of the rebellious Huntly.

A feud between the neighbouring clan, the Forbes, intensified when Henry Gordon, the 2nd Laird of Knock, was murdered during a raid by the Forbes and Clan Chattan men. His brother Alexander Gordon succeeded Henry. It is said that one day, when Alexander sent his seven sons out to cut peat for the winter store, the brothers are said to have strayed onto the Forbes Clan lands, when after several hours cutting were discovered by the Forbes and his men. A battle ensued, by the end of which all the brothers were killed. After the affray the Forbes decided to make an example of the Gordons. They severed the heads of the brothers and impaled them on their peat spades. After a while, concerned about the whereabouts of his sons, the Laird sent out one of his servants with a meal for the boys to look for them. When the boy’s heads were discovered the servant, distraught, ran back to Knock with the news of what had transpired that day. Upon hearing the news, Alexander Gordon collapsed at the top of the turnpike stair and tumbled to his death. The Forbes Laird was then taken and executed and all his lands were forfeited to Abergeldie.

References

*cite web |url=http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/portal.hsstart?P_HBNUM=9326 |title=Knock Castle, Listed Building Report |publisher=Historic Scotland |accessdate=2008-07-14
*Salter, Mike (1985). "Discovering Scottish Castles". Shire Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-85263-749-7.
*cite web |url=http://www.clan-cameron.org/battles/1562.html |title=The Battle of Corrichie |accessdate=2008-07-17

External links

* [http://www.pbase.com/rjmpaxman/knock Photos of Knock Castle]