Brochel Castle
| Brochel Castle | ||
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 Brochel Castle (2010) |
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| Castle type : | Rock castle | |
| Conservation status: | ruin | |
| Place: | Brochel, Raasay | |
| Geographical location | 57 ° 26 '32 " N , 6 ° 1' 41" W | |
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Brochel Castle is a ruined castle on the island of Raasay , Scotland .
location
The ruins of Brochel Castle are located on a 15-meter-high crag of volcanic origin above the sea on the east coast of Raasay, about eight kilometers north of Inverarish . The main attraction lies in its picturesque location and the seclusion not far from Calum's Road .
history
Brochel Castle was built by the MacLeods of Lewis in the 15th century. According to tradition, the money for the construction came from the Laird of Craignish, who had promised a reward to those who can name the killer of their son. When the murderer turned himself in, a member of the MacLeods clan, he handed him the reward as promised. This did not keep the money, but guiltily passed it on to his clan chief, who built Brochel Castle from it.
During the 17th century, the island was an important border brand of the McLeods, which gave Brochel Castle important strategic importance. The castle was inhabited until 1671.
The two writers James Boswell and Samuel Johnson visited the ruin during their legendary trip to Scotland in 1773.
In 1911 the ruin was acquired by the company "Baird & Co, Ironmasters", which in 1922 sold them to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland.
literature
- Roger Miket, David L. Roberts: The mediaeval castles of Skye & Lochalsh . MacLean Press, Portree 1990, ISBN 0-9516022-0-9 .
Web links
- Entry on Brochel Castle in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
supporting documents
- ^ Norman S. Newton: Skye . David & Charles (2007), 95.
- ^ R. Miket, DL Roberts: The mediaeval castles of Skye & Lochalsh . MacLean Press, Portree 1990.
- ↑ Norma MacLeod: Raasay. The island and its people . Birlinn, Edinburgh 2002, ISBN 1841582352 .