Monument record MHG9594 - Golspie Tower

NC80SW 3 8363 0086.

(NC 8363 0086) Golspie Tower (NR) (Ruin)
OS 6 "map, Sutherland, 2nd ed., (1907)

A few stones in front of a cottage at Golspie Tower Farm mark the site of Golspie Tower. RCAHMS 1911. <1>

Nothing remains of Golspie Tower; the last vestiges, a heap of stone 3ft high, were removed by Mr MacKay about 20 years ago (J MacKay, Park Cottage, Golspie) from in front of the farm cottage.
Mr Adam (University lecturer, St Andrews, Fife) states that it was the farm tower of a largish property, mentioned by Sir Robert Gordon in 1636; but the name also appears in a decree of 1512, now in the Dunrobin Castle Charter Room.
Visited by OS (N K B) 9 February 1966.

Golspie Tower (NR) (site of) OS 6"map, (1969)

Although the area, of land known by the name of Golspie Tower lies within the Earldom of Sutherland it had apparently been alienated at a very early date and remained separate from the estate possessions for several centuries during which both the superiority and the 'dominum utile' changed hands a good many times.
These changes exercised considerable influence on the history of east Sutherland. This account traces the ownership and development of the house from the 16th-century.
In about 1810, the house was turned into a farm and stabling to serve the newly built Golspie Inn. The general structure remained unchanged until a serious fire in 1970 destroyed the roof and upper storey of the main house. It was only at this juncture that a photographic record and architectural inspection was made.
A double maister tablet, inscribed with the initials M AG, is reported. <2>

Research into the house was conducted by Alex and Moira Hermiston, participants on a Community Timelines course, run by ARCH in 2010. The site has had several buildings: the medieval Golspitour which gives its name to the site, a two-storey house built c.1515 by Adam Gordon near the tower. There is a 16th century plaque on the gable of the present house. This house was turned into a farm in the early 19th century, and served as stables for the Golspie Inn. One building attached to the back of the house was turned into a threshing mill probably c. 1815. A fire destroyed the roof and upper story of the house, which was was demolished in 1978. The present house was built from the steadings. <3>