Muness Castle

Muness Castle
Muness Castle

Muness Castle lies in the south east corner of Unst, Shetland; Scotland's most northerly inhabited island, not far from the rocky headland of Mu Ness. It is the most northerly fortalice in Britain.[1]

Contents

The castle today

The remains of the castle consist of just over two storeys of a three-storey Z-plan arrangement, though the corner towers are circular rather than square, as is more usual with such castles. On the remaining two corners of the castle are outcrops of decorative corbelling that would originally have supported turrets at the second floor level.

In its heyday Muness Castle would have had a walled courtyard on its south west side, complete with ranges of outhouses probably comprising additional accommodation, a bakehouse, brewery, stables and perhaps a chapel. These have long since gone, though their stone is probably still on view in the nearby buildings.

A single well protected door in the south west wall of the castle gives access to the interior. The ground floor comprises a large kitchen and a series of cellars, one of which is now used to display decorative stones and loopholes from the castle.

The first floor comprises the main hall of Muness Castle, the centre of social and business life. At either end are chambers. The principal chamber is at the far end from the main stairs. And from here the remains of a private spiral staircase can be seen winding up towards the no longer present second floor.

Castle history

There are similarities between Muness Castle and Scalloway Castle on the Mainland, and with the Earl's Palace in Kirkwall on Orkney. All were built around the same time, and by the same family. Muness Castle was built by Laurence Bruce, the half brother of Robert Stewart, the Earl of Orkney.

Laurence Bruce was appointed Sheriff of Shetland and set to work with a corrupt and cruel enthusiasm that was characteristic of the family. When Robert Stewart was succeeded by his son, Earl Patrick, Laurence Bruce felt threatened by the change. He therefore started building Muness Castle in 1598, even before Patrick Stewart set to work on Scalloway Castle. Both castles were designed by Andrew Crawford.

Bruce had good reason to feel concerned for his safety. In 1608 Earl Patrick arrived in Unst with 36 men and artillery, intent on capturing or destroying the castle. They might well have succeeded had they not suddenly withdrawn for reasons that have never been explained, but it was only a temporary reprieve. In 1627 French raiders attacked and burned Muness Castle. It seems to have been repaired, but was no longer in use by end of the 17th century.

In 1713 the castle was rented to the Dutch East India Company to house the salvaged cargo from the Rhynenburgh, which was wrecked nearby. The Bruce family sold Muness Castle in 1718, and by 1750 its new owners had also abandoned it. The castle was roofless by 1774.

One may read over the door of the ruins: "List ye to knaw yis building quha began, Laurence the Bruce he was that worthy man, Quha ernestly his airis and ofspring prayis To help and not to hurt this vork alwayis. The zeir of God 1598."

The building is in the care of Historic Scotland (no entrance charge).

References

  1. ^ Tranter, Nigel The fortified house in Scotland. Vol.5, North and West Scotland and miscellaneous Oliver and Boyd/W. & R. Chambers, pg 167, EDINBURGH: Date Published: 1962-70. ISBN 9780550212108 ISBN 0550212108

External links

Coordinates: 60°41′22.19″N 0°50′57.04″W / 60.6894972°N 0.8491778°W / 60.6894972; -0.8491778


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Scalloway Castle — was built from 1599 by Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney to tighten his grip on Shetland. Its site in Shetland s then capital, Scalloway, was surrounded by the sea on three sides. HistoryThe Stewart family, as Earls of Orkney and Shetland, had… …   Wikipedia

  • Liste des châteaux écossais — Cette liste non exhaustive répertorie les principaux châteaux en Écosse, au Royaume Uni. Elle inclut les châteaux au sens large du terme, c est à dire : les châteaux et châteaux forts (généralement bâtis en milieu rural, y compris… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Laurence Bruce — of Cultmalindie (20 January 1547 ndash; August 1617), was the son of John Bruce of Cultmalindie and Eupheme Elphinstone. Easter Cultmalindie is a small hamlet or in Tibbermore parish, Perthshire, Scotland.The Bruces of Cultmalindie were a minor… …   Wikipedia

  • Unst — Muness Castle auf Unst Gewässer Nordsee Inselgruppe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Shetland — For other uses, see Shetland (disambiguation). Shetland Sealtainn …   Wikipedia

  • North Isles — Shetland Islands with North Isles highlighted in red Huney from Unst, and some other North Isles …   Wikipedia

  • Shetland — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Shetland (homonymie). Shetland Sealtainn (gd) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Unst — Géographie Pays  Royaume Uni Archipel Shetland Localisation …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Unst — Playa en Sandwick, Unst. Localización País Escocia …   Wikipedia Español

  • Clan Bruce — Crest badge …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”