Alternative Names Findon Castle; Castle Hill, Gardenstown; Castle Point
Site type CASTLE, FORT, MOTTE (POSSIBLE)
Canmore ID 19285
Site Number NJ76SE 5
NGR NJ 7943 6424
Council ABERDEENSHIRE
Parish GAMRIE
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District BANFF AND BUCHAN
Former County BANFFSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NJ76SE 5 7943 6424

(NJ 7943 6424) Castle of Findon (NR) (Site of)
Fosse (NR)
OS 6" map, Banffshire, 2nd ed., (1904)

The site of the Castle of Findon falls on the top of a prominent knoll overlooking Gamrie Bay with steep natural slopes on all sides and ravines to NE and SW. Traces of scarps and ditches can be seen around the top of the knoll but no structural remains survive, except two blocks of masonry embedded in the ground at the SW end. Many stones have been removed from the site within living memory and vitrified stones have been found, according to the Ordnance Survey Name Book (ONB 1869), and within recent years, though none was found during fieldwork.
Local tradition attributes the castle to the son of Hamlyn of Troup (NJ86NW) but the discovery of vitrified material suggests even earlier occupation.
Revised at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 10 February 1965.
Name Book 1869.

No change.
Visited by OS (RL) 25 January 1968.

Identified as motte.
P A Yeoman 1988.

Bogdan and Bryce, N and I B D (1991) 'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey', Discovery Excav Scot
Page(s): 25

Ordnance Survey (Name Book) Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey (6 inch and 1/2500 scale)
Page(s): Book No. 14, 150 Held at RCAHMS Ref

Scottish Castle Survey (1988) 'A directory of the owners and occupiers of the castles, manors and 'town houses' {c.1050-c.1707} of Scotland: Grampian Region', Aberdeen
Page(s): 14, no.18/5 Held at RCAHMS B.2.1.CAS