Building record MHG3140 - Dunvegan Castle

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NG 2473 4909 (300m by 300m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet NG24NW
Geographical Area SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Old County INVERNESS-SHIRE
Civil Parish DUIRINISH

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

NG 24NW 7.00 2474 4810

NG24NW 7.01 NG 2458 4954 Stables; Saw Mill
NG24NW 7.02 NG 2468 4902 Laundry
NG24NW 7.03 Centred NG 2482 4897 Gardens
NG24NW 7.04 Centred NG 2475 4888 Walled garden

Dunvegan Castle occupies the summit of a rock which projects on to the eastern shore of an inlet. On the landward side it is isolated by a ditch, partly natural and partly artifical, about 60ft in width and 18ft in present depth. There seems little doubt that the rock was the site of a dun of some island chief at an early date. The name is said to mean 'Began's Dun'. All traces of any prehistoric structure seems to have been swept away for the medieval works.
In the 13th century, after the annexation of the Western Isles by Alexander III in 1266, the summit of the rock was enclosed with a certain wall with arched entrance, the sea gate, from which steps led up to yhe platform area, the only entrance to the castle till 1748. In the second half of the 14th century, a keep, 48ft by 35ft, was built at the NE angle of the rock. Early in the 16th century, the 'Fairy Tower' was added at the SE corner, and between these two towers extends Roy Mor's work, erected 1623. The SW wing was built between 1684 and 1690. All these buildings have been much altered by the 19th century transformation.
RCAHMS 1928; W D Simpson 1963.

Dunvegan Castle, the ancestral home of the Macleods, is the private residence of Dame Flora Macleod of Macleod. It is described above, and is in excellent condition.
Visited by OS (A S P) 17 May 1961.

OWNER: Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod

ARCHITECT: William Burn (?)
Robert Brown - remodelling work 1840 - 50
Colin Sinclair - repairs after fire 1938 - 40

REFERENCE:
SCOTTISH RECORD OFFICE
1. Plan of part of castle showing proposed alterations
2. West elevation.
[1840]
Billiard room on level with present drawing room. MacLeod Private Collection
Plans of 2nd and 3rd storey of North wing. Give dimensions in great detail. c.1812

NMRS LIBRARY
'Scottish Country Life' May 1930, page 140 - photograph

See also:

NG24NW0013 The Cottage
NG24NW0032 Gatepiers
NG24NW0034 Stables and sawmill
NG24NW0036 Walled garden and sundial
NG24NW0037 Laundry
NG24NW0040 Gardens
NG24NW0054 Carved stone

Sources/Archives (13)

  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Bogle, L. 1895. 'Archaeological notes on Dunvegan Castle', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 24 1894-5, p.255-71. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 255-71. 255-71.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Forman, S. 1967. Scottish country houses and castles. 166 -8; 166 – 8.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: MacGibbon, D and Ross, T. 1887-92. The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries. Hardback. Vol.III, 77 - 82; 78, 80, 81.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: MacLeod of MacLeod, R C (ed.). 1938. The book of Dunvegan being documents from the Muniment Room of the MacLeods of MacLeod at Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Miket and Roberts, R and D L. 1990. The medieval castles of Skye and Lochalsh. 65-73.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Taylor, A. 02/2010. A Collection of Highland Buildings and Monuments. Colour. Yes. Digital.
  • --- Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1928. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Ninth report with inventory of monuments and constructions in the Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles. . 152-4, No. 504; plan fig. 221; illust figs. 217-18.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Ritchie and Harman, J N G and M. 1985. Exploring Scotland's heritage: Argyll and the Western Isles. 81-2, no.27.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Simpson, W D. 1963. Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye: official guide. 14th. 5, 8-9.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Werner Company of Chicago. 1894. Beautiful Britain: the scenery and the splendours of the United Kingdom: views of our stately houses ... royal residences, palaces and castles, bowers and hunting-lodges, river banks and islets, the homes of princes. 105.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: MacLeod of MacLeod, J. 1978. 'Dunvegan Castle: a tour round the castle with Chief John', Clan MacLeod Magazine Vol. 8 1978, p.6-14. Clan MacLeod Magazine. 6-14. 6-14.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Forman, S. 1964. 'Dunvegan: home of the MacLeods of MacLeod for seven centuries', Scot Fld Vol. 111 Oct 1964, p.36-8. Scot Fld. 36-8. 36-38.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Gordon, S. 1950. 'Dunvegan: strong castle of Skye', Scot Fld Vol. 98 May 1950, p.21-3. Scot Fld. 21-3. 21-3.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (7)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jun 5 2015 10:06AM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the Heritage Portal maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.