Noltland Castle
Noltland Castle is a ruined castle on the Scottish Orkney island of Westray . The facility is classified as a Scheduled Monument .
history
Gilbert Balfour , who likely played a major role in the assassination of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley at the court of Queen Mary of Scots , obtained rule of Westray Island in 1560 from his brother-in-law, Adam Bothwell , the Bishop of Orkney . Noltland Castle was built between 1560 and 1572 but was never completed. After the assassination of Lord Darnley, Balfour withdrew to the Orkney Islands, where he hoped for a certain security. Although Balfour was involved in fighting in favor of the Queen on Mainland , Mary's half-brother Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney, obtained his expropriation.
Around 1572, Noltland Castle must have been at least partially habitable, because Stewart demanded the evacuation of the building. Gilbert Balfour fled to Sweden , but Noltland Castle remained in family ownership until 1594 when it was besieged and taken on the instructions of Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney . In 1606 it was sold to John Arnot . In 1650 fleeing troops quartered around James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose in Noltland Castle, which was subsequently besieged and burned down by Covenantern . In 1911 the castle became state property.
description
Noltland Castle is isolated near the coast in the north of West Ray. Most of the structure dates from the 16th century, with some additions in the south dating from the 17th century. The four-storey building has a Z-shaped floor plan, consisting of an elongated main building with diagonally opposite towers. The tower in the northeast is five-story. The masonry consists of quarry stone with decorative ribbons made of red sandstone . A total of 71 loopholes are embedded in the outer walls of the heavily fortified structure. Only the beginnings of the cantilevered battlements are left.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Scheduled Monument - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
Web links
- Entry on Noltland Castle in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
Coordinates: 59 ° 19 ′ 14.9 ″ N , 3 ° 0 ′ 16 ″ W.