Scrabster Castle

{{Infobox military installation

|name = Scrabster Castle

|location = Scrabster, Highland, Scotland

|image = Pillbox at Thurso Bay - geograph.org.uk - 244031.jpg

|caption = Pillbox at Thurso Bay and mounds remaining from castle ruins, with Burnside in the background

|map_type = Scotland Highland

|map_relief = yes

|map_caption = Scrabster Castle

|coordinates = {{coord|58.601013|-3.538941|type:landmark|display=inline}}

|built = c. 12th century

|builder = Bishop of Caithness

|used = 13th to 16th century

|condition = Ruin

|ownership =

|open_to_public = No

}}

Scrabster Castle{{efn|Also known as Bishop's Palace or Castle of Burnside}} was a castle, near Burnside, about {{convert|0.5|mi|1}} north and west of Thurso, and {{convert|0.5|mi|1}} south of the village of Scrabster, Highland in Scotland, south of Thurso Bay.Coventry, Martin (1997) The Castles of Scotland. Goblinshead. {{ISBN|1-899874-10-0}} p. 297. It is on an eroding promontory.{{cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/8449/thurso-burnside-scrabster-castle|work=Canmore|title=Scrabster Castle|accessdate=2021-05-20}}

History

Built by the Bishops of Caithness, the castle served as the Bishop's Palace for the bishops of Caithness. Bishop John of Caithness was mutilated by Harald Maddadsson, Mormaer of Caithness, in 1201,{{sfn|Coventry|2010|p=508}} after being besieged at the castle, having his tongue and eyes removed for John's refusal to collect Peter's Pence, a tax of 1/10 of the income of every freeman. George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness, seized the castle in 1544.{{sfn|Coventry|2010|p=533}} The castle was later a royal castle. The castle was in ruins in the early 18th century.

Structure

Scrabster Castle was a castle of enclosure, with a keep. There is a pillbox within the ruins.

There was a drawbridge towards the land. While erosion has partly destroyed the curtain wall, with other parts obscured by turf banks, short stretches of the outer face are exposed. The inner wall-face of a building about {{convert|5|m}} square with a mural chamber is visible.

Notes

Citations

References

{{cite book|last=Coventry|first=Martin|year=2010|title=Castles of the Clans|location=Musselburgh|publisher=Goblinshead|isbn=978-1-899874-36-1}}

External links

[http://www.caithness.org/caithness/castles/bishopspalace/ Image, map and plan of the castle]

Category:Ruined castles in Highland (council area)

Category:Clan Murray