Duntrune Castle

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Duntrune Castle from the east

Duntrune Castle is a castle on the north side of Loch Crinan opposite the village of Crinan in the Scottish administration unit Argyll and Bute . It is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited castle on mainland Scotland since its construction. Historic Scotland has listed it as a Category B Historic Building.

history

The MacDougall clan had Duntrune Castle in the 12th century along with other castles in the area, e. B. Dunollie Castle at Above . The castle was later conquered by the Campbell clan . In 1644 the castle was besieged by the rival MacDonald clan under Alasdair MacColla . The Campbells sold Duntrune Castle to the Malcolms of Poltalloch in 1792 . Today Robin Neill Malcolm Castle belongs to the current Malcolm clan chief.

The curtain wall of the castle dates from the 13th century, although the gatehouse , which forms the main part of the castle, was not built until the 17th century. The castle was renovated in 1954.

The Duntrune Bagpiper

The ghost of a handless bagpiper is said to be in the castle. According to one story, the MacDonalds bagpiper was said to have been sent into the castle as a spy, but was discovered. He was imprisoned but played his bagpipes to warn his clan that their "surprise" attack was now awaiting. Alasdair MacColla withdrew and the Campbells cut off the bagpiper's hands.

Another, also well-known story, is that the MacDonalds took the castle. MacColla had to return home, leaving a small garrison to defend the castle, including his personal bagpiper. In his absence, the castle was retaken by the Campbells and all MacDonalds were killed, with the exception of the bagpiper, who was spared because of his social position. After the Campbells recaptured their castle, they set a trap for the MacDonalds: When McColla returned to the castle, he and his people, as expected, heard the bagpiper play a welcome tune from the castle wall. As the ship approached the MacDonalds, they could recognize the melody more precisely and recognized it as a warning. The little ship turned and the trap didn't snap. To punish the bagpiper, his hands were cut off so that he could never play again. The bagpiper bled to death and died from his injuries.

During some renovations to the castle, workers dug up a handless human skeleton under a stone entrance. His hands had apparently been severed by clean cuts through the wrists. This skeleton is thought to be that of the Duntrune bagpiper. There is evidence of an episcopal burial; many Highlanders who served the royalist cause were episcopal at the time. The Campbells fought for the Kovenanters , who were Presbyterians .

In the movie

The gate pillars of Skyfall Lodge , where James Bond is said to have spent his youth according to the film of the same name , were designed after those of Duntrune Castle.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Duntrune Castle . Historic Houses Association. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  2. ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  3. ↑ Duntrune Castle . Clan MacCallum - Malcolm Society of North America. Archived from the original on June 5, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  4. ↑ Duntrune Castle . In: Canmore . Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  5. ↑ Gary Lineham: Love Story is mo Ordinary Fairy Tale . The Union Democrat. April 12, 2001. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  6. ↑ John Hamilton: Haunted Places . ABDO. January 10, 2007. Accessed June 30, 2017.
  7. ↑ Chris Rogers writer on architecture and visual culture . ChrisMRogers.net. Retrieved June 30, 2017.

Web links

Commons : Duntrune Castle  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 56 ° 6 ′ 4.1 ″  N , 5 ° 33 ′ 1 ″  W.