- Ackergill Tower
Infobox Military Structure
name=Ackergill Tower
location=Wick,Caithness ,Scotland
gbmappingsmall|ND352546
coordinates=
caption= Ackergill Tower
type=tower house with some extensions
built=during the 1400s
builder=unknown member of theClan Keith
materials=Stone
used=15th century to 21st century
condition=
ownership=John and Arlette Banister
open_to_public=Yes
controlledby=Ackergill Tower or Ackergill Castle is a Scottish castle in Wick,
Caithness .Early History
Built in the 1400’s by
clan Keith , Ackergill Tower is a five story oblongtower house . The Keith clan under John Keith took the lands atAckergill in1354 , and Ackergill Tower was likely built by his son.The Sinclairs
In
1547 , the Sinclairs ofSinclair & Girnigoe Castle attacked and seized the castle. Mary the Regent granted the Sinclairs remission for this, and returned Ackergill Tower to the Keiths, and later installed Lord Oliphant as keeper of Ackergill in1549 . The Sinclairs again captured the castle in1556 , for which they were again granted remission.The Keiths
In
1593 , Robert Keith, brother to theWilliam Keith, 6th Earl Marischal (who rightfully owned the tower), seized Ackergill by force, for which he was declared a rebel, and the castle returned to the Earl.In
1598 , another Keith, one John Keith of Subster, attacked the tower in the dead of night, taking its occupants by surprise and capturing the place.The Sinclairs, again
In
1612 , the Sinclairs acquired Ackergill Tower once again, but through legal means, when it was sold to the Earl of Caithness by the Earl Marischal. However, by1623 it was under assault once more, when it was besieged by Sir Robert Gordon during his feud withGeorge Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness , but the Sinclairs surrendered the castle before any assault took place.In
1651 ,Oliver Cromwell may have used Ackergill Castle togarrison his troops during his siege of the Keith'sDunnottar Castle , as he was hunting for theHonours of Scotland .In
1676 ,John Campbell, 2nd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland took possession of Ackergill Tower in repayment of debts owed by the Sinclairs.The Dunbars
John Campbell put Ackergill Tower up for sale in
1699 , and it was bought by Sir William Dunbar of Hempriggs. The Dunbars began extensive renovations, including the addition of alean-to -shaped extension to the tower and numerous other changes carried out by the architectDavid Bryce on behalf ofGeorge Sutherland Dunbar, 7th Lord Duffus . It remained in the hands of the Dunbars of Hempriggs until 1986, when it was sold.The Castle today
The castle was purchased from the Dunbars in
1986 , and underwent a two-year period of restoration work before opening as an exclusive hotel and business venue.External links
* [http://www.caithness.org/caithness/castles/ackergill/ Caithness.org’s Ackergill Tower page]
* [http://www.ackergill-tower.co.uk/ Ackergill Tower’s official website]
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