Dornoch Castle
Dornoch Castle is situated opposite Dornoch Cathedral in the town of Dornoch, Scotland.
As of 2000, the castle is operated as a family-run hotel with 24 rooms.[1]
History
Dornoch Castle, originally called the Palace of Dornoch, was built around 1500 as the home of the bishops of Caithness.[2] In 1557, Bishop Robert Stewart gifted the building to John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland[2] and his heirs, who were made hereditary constables of the Palace of Dornoch, "situated in the Irish (Gaelic-speaking) country among the wild, unbridled, untamed, and savage Scots."[3]
In 1570 the castle was set alight in a feud between the McKays and Murrays. At that time, the people of the town endured a week in the tower of the cathedral and in the castle.[4]The rebuilding which followed included the addition of the upper part of the tower.[2]
The Castle is believed to have been haunted by the ghost of the covenanter, Andrew McCornish, who was hanged for sheep stealing in the 17th century.[5]
The castle decayed during the 18th century, but was restored between 1813 and 1814. In the first half of the 19th century, court hearings were held in a room in the tower of castle, accessed by a spiral staircase, until Dornoch Sheriff Court was erected further to the east along Castle Street in 1850.[5] Following extensive remodelling by William Fowler, the castle became a residence for George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland, in 1859.[6]
Further alterations were made around 1880, including the heightening of the south-west block, and the addition of a three-storey east tower.[2]
The castle was sold to a private developer in 1922 and was converted into hotel in 1947.[7] Facilities included 24 bedrooms, and some garden rooms, which were added in the 1970s. The castle is a category B listed building.[2]
Since 2000, it has been in the ownership of the Thompson family, who also own and operate Dornoch distillery next to the hotel.[8]
References
- ↑ "7 Castle Hotels in Scotland That You Can Stay in". Culture Trip. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Historic Environment Scotland. "Castle Street Dornoch Castle (Castle Hotel) and Garden Wall (Category B Listed Building LB24636)". Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ↑ Simpson, W. Douglas. "The Palace of the Bishops of Caithness at Dornoch". Scottish Notes and Queries. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Simpson, W. Douglas. "The Palace of the Bishops of Caithness at Dornoch". Scottish Notes and Queries. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Dornoch Castle A Brief History" (PDF). Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- ↑ "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report". Archived from the original on 6 September 2015.
- ↑ "History". Dornoch Castle Hotel. 12 March 2018.
- ↑ https://whiskymag.com/articles/dornoch-distillery-looks-to-the-future/
External links
