Overview Themes 700BC to 0 0 to 800AD 800AD to 1100AD Mayo Map Vestvågøy Map Mid-Argyll Map Archaeology CD-ROM Education Exhibition Publication Bibliography Project Useful Links Contact 3D Fly-by

Mid-Argyll - 32 Carnassarie Castle Site/Artefact Carnassarie Castle Type Castle Site Number 32 National Grid Reference 1839 East 6008 North Map ( 1:25000) Ordnance Survey Landranger 55 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here   Excavation Details Not excavated Description A combined tower house and hall, now a well preserved ruin, situated on top of a ridge at the head of Kilmartin valley. It was built by John Carswell, Bishop of the Isles between 1565 and 1572 and was partly remodelled in the late 17th c. An earlier Castle or defence is suggested by a wall line surrounding a promontory to the north of the present structure. Exterior The building consists of a five storey tower with parapet, three storey hall and four storey stair tower. The construction is lime-mortared random rubble and it was originally harled. Architectural details to note are corbelled angle turrets on the tower, carved water spouts and various horizontal gunports and vertical pistol loops. There is also an elaborately carved architectural frame above a doorway in the E wall of the staircase tower which incorporates a shield with the arms of Archibald Campbell 5th Earl of Argyll and his wife Jean Stewart, daughter of King James V. Interior The building had a vaulted service basement which included the kitchen, where an arched fireplace, oven and water inlet (carved as an open mouthed face) can be seen. The floors above had joisted wooden ceilings supported on runner-beams and corbels. Most of the upper chambers had their own garderobe. Architectural details to note include various doorways and fireplaces with moulded surrounds in the upper floors of the tower and hall. Access/Ownership The site is owned by Historic Scotland and is open to the public. References Inventory of Stirlingshire, 2, No.299 Adams, D "Scottish Architctural Decoration, c.1560-c.1650" (Edinburgh University dissertation, 1977; copy in NMRS) Thomson, R L (ed.) "Foirm Na n-Urrnuidheadh" (Scottish Gaelic Texts Society, 1970), 3, 13, 181, and passim Bannerman, J "Two early post-Reformation inscriptions in Argyll", PSAS 105 (1972-4), 307-12 Kist, 21 (1981) 11-14 AT, 20 October 1436 SHS Misc., 4, 239,258 RMS, 3 (1513-46), no.826; 4 (1546-80), no.1592 Geog.Coll., 2, 148 Campbell, "Argyll Sasines", 1, nos.23, 258, 288, 300; 2, nos.456, 1050 Valuation Roll, 1751. A sketch of the castle with its two towers is included in Pont's map of about 1590 (Pont MS maps, no.15) "Highland Papers", 1, 170, 174-5, 190-2, and 142-94, passim. NSA, 7 (Argyll), 555-8 "Atholl Chronicles", 1, 248, 253-4, "Hist.MSS Comm.," 12th Report (appendix, part 8), p.13, no.20, p.23, no.55 SRO, E 69/3/1, p.23 "Edinburgh Evening Courant", 9 July 1825 Other Mid-Argyll Sites and Artefacts  1. Kilmory Oib  2. Druim an Dúin  3. Duntroon  4. Dún Ardifur 1  5. Eilean Rígh 1  6. Dún Chonaillach  7. Loch Awe Crannogs  8. Torran Hoard  9. Dún na Nighinne 10. Kilmartin Parish Church 11. Temple Wood Stone Circles 12. Ogham stone, Poltalloch 13. Barnakil Cross 14. Kilbride Chapel 15. Kilbride Crosses 16. Dunadd Fort 17. In Nomine disk 18. Brooch Moulds 19. Dunadd cross-marked quern 20. Loch Glashan Crannog 21. Glebe Cairn 22. Nether Largie North 23. Nether Largie Mid 24. Nether Largie South 25. Ri Cruin 26. Nether Largie 27. Ballymeanoch - Stones 28. Ballymeanoch - Henge 29. Ballymeanoch - Cairn 30. Dunchragaig 31. Baluachraig 32. Carnassarie Castle 33. BallymeanocH - Barrow 34. Dun Mac Samhainn 35. Glenmoine, Upper Largie 36. Creag a' Mhadaidh 37. Carnassarie - Round Cairn 38. Carnasserie - Standing Stones 39. Carnasserie - Cist 40. Carnasserie Cottage 41. Upper Largie - Cist 42. Upper Largie - Rock Carvings 43. Nether Largie 44. Poltalloch - Cist 45. Poltalloch - cists 46. Bruach an Druimein 47. Dunchraigaig - Dun 48. Poltalloch - Round Cairn 49. Rownfield - Cist 50. Ballymeanoch - Cist 51. Poltalloch - Cists 52. Ballymeanoch - Dun 53. Dunadd - Standing Stones 54. Dunadd - Standing Stone 55. Baile Mor - Dun 56. Anaskeog - Rock Carvings 57. Bariole 58. Rhudil - Round Cairn 1 59. Rhudil - Round Cairn 2 60. Kilmartin Castle 61. Slockavullin 62. Rowanfield - Standing Stone 63. Poltalloch - Cremation

Mayo - Vestvågøy - Mid-Argyll Travels in Time--> | Overview | Themes | Timelines--> | 700BC to 0 | 0 to 800AD | 800AD to 1100AD | Landscape--> | Mayo | Vestvågøy | Mid-Argyll | Archaeology | Other Media--> | CD-ROM | Education | Exhibition | Publication | Information--> | Bibliography | Project | Links | Contact | This project has been supported by the EU as part of the Culture 2000 programme.