Cullen Castle
{{Short description|Castle in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
File:Cullen Castle, Banffshire.jpg
Cullen Castle was a royal castle about {{convert|0.5|mi|1}} west of Cullen, Moray, Scotland, west of the burn of Deskford and south of Seatown. The remains have been designated a scheduled monument, accessible to the public.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM355|desc=Cullen Castle|access-date=12 March 2019}}
History
Elizabeth de Burgh, the wife of Robert the Bruce, died here, although it has been suggested this was at an earlier castle.{{cite web |url=http://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/cullen-castle|title=Cullen Castle|publisher=Stravaiging around Scotland|accessdate=2016-08-25}} Vestiges of the castle remained until the 19th century.Coventry, Martin (2001). The Castles of Scotland. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. p. 138 {{ISBN|1-899874-26-7}}
Structure
It is believed that the castle, on Castle Hill, was a motte, encircled by a wide ditch and outer rampart, except on the north where a landslip has destroyed it. The ditch is about {{convert|6.0|m}} wide and {{convert|1.75|m}} deep; the outer bank is about {{convert|6.0|m}} wide and {{convert|1.5|m}} high.{{cite web |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/17943/cullen-castle-hill|title=Cullen, Castle Hill|publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland|accessdate=2016-08-25}}
The mound of the motte has been covered by a network of ancient paths. Excavations were conducted in February–October 2017 to restore parts of the network and minimise erosion. Eight test pits were dug of which seven located the main path. The other one was dug in an area less disturbed by foot traffic and did not locate the path despite being excavated to a depth of {{convert|150|mm}}. Foundation bases for picnic tables and benches and a replacement flagpole socket were installed during the excavations. No finds or features of archaeological interest were found.
References
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