Cromarty Castle was a castle in Cromarty, Scotland. Cromarty, then known as Crumbathyn, was created a

royal burgh A royal burgh () was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished by law in 1975, the term is still used by many former royal burghs. Most royal burghs were either created by ...

in the reign of King Alexander I of Scotland. Cromarty overlooks the entrance to the Cromarty Firth and was strategically important. A motte-and-bailey castle was built in the 12th–13th century. The castle was held by Sir William de Monte Alto during the Scottish wars of independence for both the English and the Scottish. Permission was given to Sir William Urquhart, the

Sheriff of Cromarty The Sheriff of Ross, Cromarty and Sutherland was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Ross-shire, Cromarty and Sutherland, Scotland and bringing criminals to justice. Original known as the office of the Sheriff of ...

, to

crenellate A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (i.e., a defensive low wall between chest-height and head-height), in which gaps or indentations, which are often rectangular, occur at interva ...

the motte of Cromarty in 1470. Sir William's son Thomas built an L-plan tower house. The castle was demolished in 1772, and the stone and timbers used in the construction of Cromarty House.

References

*Coventry, M. (2008). ''Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans''. Musselburgh. *Mackenzie, W M. (1950).
Old Cromarty Castle
, ''Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot.'', vol. 82, 1947–8. *Mackenzie, W M. (1922). ''The Old Sherriffdom of Cromarty''. *Miller, H. (1889a). ''Scenes and legends of the north of Scotland; or, The Traditional History of Cromarty''. 2nd ed. Edinburgh. *Slade, H G. (1993). ''Old Cromarty Castle''. Cromarty. *Yeoman, P A. (1988f). "Mottes in Northeast Scotland", ''Scot. Archaeol. Rev.'', vol. 5, 1988. Castles in Highland (council area) Ruined castles in Highland (council area) Demolished buildings and structures in Scotland Former castles in Scotland {{Scotland-castle-stub

References

Further reading