The 15th-century Auchindoun Castle in Moray has once again opened its doors to the public after undergoing high-level masonry inspections and necessary repairs.
The High-Level Masonry Programme has emerged from continuous risk evaluations and sample surveys, focusing on the effects of climate change on various sites, as well as the extent of deterioration attributed to several factors, such as the construction materials, the age of the buildings, and their geographical locations. Although this challenge is not exclusive to Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is recognized as one of the pioneering heritage management organizations to tackle it in this manner, with findings disseminated to peer institutions.
Graham Smith, District Visitor & Community Manager North Region at HES, said:
“Built in the 1400s, Auchindoun Castle still stands as a mighty and imposing stone fortress. The site’s remains tell a bloody history all whilst overlooking the spectacular setting of the Moray landscape. With a lord’s hall, withdrawing chamber and a barrel-vaulted chamber only revealed by excavation in 1984, there’s lots to explore and discover. Plus, the views from its hilltop location make it more than worth the walk!”
The grounds of the castle exhibit evidence of prehistoric or Pictish earthworks, yet the most prominent remnants today belong to the structure erected in the mid-15th century. This edifice is often attributed to Robert Cochrane, a favourite of James III. In 1489, the castle came into the possession of the Clan Ogilvy, which subsequently transferred it to the Clan Gordon in 1535. Historical accounts, including those by William Forbes Skene and Alexander Macbain, suggest that William Mackintosh, the 15th of Mackintosh, set fire to Auchindoun Castle, the residence of the Earl of Huntly, leading to his execution in 1550. However, Alexander Mackintosh-Shaw contends that this narrative is entirely fabricated.
In 1592, the Clan Mackintosh inflicted damage upon the castle in retaliation for the Earl of Huntly’s murder of their ally, the Bonny Earl O’Moray. In March 1593, Patrick Gordon of Auchindoun was declared a rebel, resulting in Auchindoun Castle being granted to Sir George Home, whose wife, Elizabeth Gordon, was the stepdaughter of Patrick Gordon. Following the battle of Glenlivet in October 1594, the injured supporters of the Earl of Huntly sought refuge at Auchindoun. In response, James VI ordered the slighting or demolition of Auchindoun, Slains Castle, Huntly Castle, and the Gordon castles of Abergeldy and Newton.
After the Restoration of Charles II, the castle was returned to the Marquis of Huntly. During the first Jacobite rising in 1689, the castle served as a temporary headquarters for John Graham of Claverhouse and his Jacobite forces. By 1725, however, the castle had fallen into disrepair, with stones repurposed for local agricultural buildings and the nearby Balvenie Castle.
