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Thurso Castle (alternatively, Castrum De Thorsa, Castle of Ormly, and Castle of Ormlie) is a ruined 19th-century castle, located in
The previous structure, known as the Arch was described in 1802 as "the most ornamental piece of architecture in the north". Robert Sinclair refers to the present castle as "a gallant ruined reminder of its former Gothic glory". On the south side, a gatehouse and associated lodge are in fair condition. On the north side, adjacent to the river, are the remains of the north tower and a wing. Brick was added to the lower windows in the 20th century. The well is roughly deep.
Thurso Castle (alternatively, Castrum De Thorsa, Castle of Ormly, and Castle of Ormlie) is a ruined 19th-century castle, located in Thurso
Thurso (pronounced ; sco, Thursa, gd, Inbhir Theòrsa ) is a town and former burgh on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland. Situated in the historical County of Caithness, it is the northernmost town on the island of Great ...
, Caithness
Caithness ( gd, Gallaibh ; sco, Caitnes; non, Katanes) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland.
Caithness has a land boundary with the historic county of Sutherland to the west and is otherwise bounded by ...
, in the Scottish Highlands
The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Sco ...
. Situated in Thurso East, off Castletown Road, east of the River Thurso
The River Thurso ( gd, Abhainn Theòrsa) has Loch Rumsdale in Caithness as its source, about 26 kilometres south and 14 kilometres west of the burgh of Thurso, Caithness, and about 2 kilometres south of the railway line linking the burghs of T ...
, the site can be seen from across the river. The current castle ruins date to 1872; A large part was demolished in 1952, although there has been a fortress here since the 12th century. Part of the castle is still habitable and remains a home of the Viscounts Thurso.
History
The name Thurso means "Thor's River" and was named by the Vikings. There was a castle at Thurso East, which served as a residence of the earls of Orkney and Caithness, and it is probably the earthwork structure which was recorded in 1157 as the Thorsa castle. A fire gutted it in the early 16th century, and no vestige of it remains. The Arch, also known as Thurso Castle, was built in 1665 byGeorge Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness
George Sinclair (died 1676) was a Scottish nobleman, 6th Earl of Caithness, and chief of the Clan Sinclair, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.
Early life
George Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness was the son of John Sinclair, Master of Berr ...
. The contract between him and the master mason, Donald Ross, records the price as 600 merks
The merk is a long-obsolete Scottish silver coin. Originally the same word as a money mark of silver, the merk was in circulation at the end of the 16th century and in the 17th century. It was originally valued at 13 shillings 4 pence (exactly ...
. The Thurso Laird
Laird () is the owner of a large, long-established Scottish estate. In the traditional Scottish order of precedence, a laird ranked below a baron and above a gentleman. This rank was held only by those lairds holding official recognition in ...
ship was later held by Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet
Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster, 1st Baronet, (10 May 1754 – 21 December 1835), was a British politician, a writer on both finance and agriculture, and was one of the first people to use the word '' statistics'' in the English language, in ...
, who erected a new structure, designed as a castle or fortress. It was restored and enlarged in 1806 and 1835.
The current structure, a Victorian Gothic ruin, was built in 1872 and demolished in 1952.
Former United States President, Ulysses S. Grant visited the castle as part of his 1877 world tour.
Architecture
The previous structure, known as the Arch was described in 1802 as "the most ornamental piece of architecture in the north". Robert Sinclair refers to the present castle as "a gallant ruined reminder of its former Gothic glory". On the south side, a gatehouse and associated lodge are in fair condition. On the north side, adjacent to the river, are the remains of the north tower and a wing. Brick was added to the lower windows in the 20th century. The well is roughly deep.
Grounds
The site, of hilly ground known as Brown Hill, is situated east of Thurso, close to the Atlantic Ocean atop of a rock several fathoms high. Amanse
A manse () is a clergy house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and other Christian traditions.
Ultimately derived from the Latin ''mansus'', "dwelling", from '' ...
was erected at the site in 1818 using some of the stones from the castle. About a mile to the northeast is Harald's Tower, built in 1780, which served as a burial place for the Sinclairs of Thurso.
References
Bibliography
*M. Coventry, ''The Castles of Scotland'' (2006), Fourth Edition, Birlinn Limited. . Blz. 602-603.External links
* {{Coords, 58, 35, 57.46, N, 3, 30, 29.55, W, display=title, type:landmark Ruined castles in Highland (council area) Buildings and structures in Caithness Buildings and structures completed in 1872 1952 disestablishments Thurso