Skipness Castle

Skipness Castle
Kintyre peninsula, Scotland; near the village of Skipness
Skipness Castle, seen from the northwest
Skipness Castle is located in Argyll and Bute
Skipness Castle
Skipness Castle
Coordinates55°46′05″N 5°20′11″W / 55.7680°N 5.3364°W / 55.7680; -5.3364
TypeCastle
Site history
In use13th – 17th century

Skipness Castle stands on the east side of the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland, near the village of Skipness. Together with the nearby Kilbrannan Chapel it is a scheduled ancient monument.[1]

History

The main structure of the castle was built in the early 13th century by the Clan MacSween, with later fortifications and other additions made to the castle through the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries.

View from Skipness Castle

The castle was garrisoned with royal troops in 1494, during King James IV of Scotland's suppression of the Isles. James IV appointed Duncan Forestar as keeper of the castle.[2] Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, granted Skipness to his younger son, Archibald Campbell, in 1511.[3]

During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in 1646, the castle was besieged by forces under the command of Alasdair Mac Colla. During the siege, Alasdair's brother, Gilleasbuig Mac Colla, was killed in August 1646.[4] The castle was abandoned in the 17th century.

References

  1. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Skipness Castle and Kilbrannan Chapel (SM13225)". Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. ^ HMC 4th Report (London, 1874), p. 477.
  3. ^ "Castle Skipness". 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  4. ^ "MacDonalds Carolingian Era". 2009. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
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