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Caisteal Na Nighinn Ruaidhe, Loch Avich

Castle (Medieval)

Site Name Caisteal Na Nighinn Ruaidhe, Loch Avich

Classification Castle (Medieval)

Alternative Name(s) Innis Luana; Caisteal Na Nigham Ruaidhe; Caisteal Na Thighinn Ruaidhe

Canmore ID 23170

Site Number NM91SW 1

NGR NM 91666 13754

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/23170

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Argyll And Bute
  • Parish Kilchrenan And Dalavich
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Argyll And Bute
  • Former County Argyll

Archaeology Notes

NM91SW 1 9166 1375.

(NM 9166 1375) Caisteal na Nighinn Ruaidhe (NR) (remains of)

As described.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 14 October 1969.

Surveyed at 1:10 000 scale.

The ruins of this ancient castle stand on the islet of Innis Luana near the SW end of Loch Avich. The castle occupies the eastern portion of the island and the remains comprise an oblong tower-house standing within a defensive enclosure which contains some remains of outbuildings.

The SE wall of the tower-house stands almost to its full height, but the remaining walls are fragmentary. The building evidently had at least three storeys and appears to have measured about 15.8 metres SW-NE by 11.3 metres at second-floor level over walls 2.3 metres thick at the same level.

Except on the SE side, where the tower-house stands directly above the shore the eastern portion of the island appears to have been enclosed by a stone wall, now very ruinous, but with evidence of lime-mortar construction. In the NW corner of the enclosing wall may be seen what appears to be the jamb of an entrance doorway whilst within the walls at this point are the remains of a small sub-rectangular building measuring about 16.1 metres SW-NE by 10 metres overall. This appears to have been a dry-stone construction divided into two apartments.

Almost nothing is known of the history of this castle, but it was a stronghold of the Campbells. It was certainly in existence in the early years of the 15th century and it may be as early as 13th century date.

RCAHMS 1975.

Activities

Field Visit (June 1971)

Caisteal na Nighinn Ruaidhe, Loch Avich. The ruins of this castle occupy a small island situated close to the NW shore of Loch Avich about 7 km E of Kilmelford. The island itself is approximately hour-glass shaped on plan, the central waist, which is lower than the remainder, constituting a convenient landing-place. The W portion of the islet can be reached from the mainland by wading, the distance being about 30 m, and the maximum depth of water at the date of visit 1.0 m.

The castle occupies the E portion of the islet, and the remains comprise an oblong tower-house, or hall-house, standing within a defensive enclosure which contains some remains of outbuildings (Fig. 169). The SE wall of the tower-house stands almost to its full height, but the remaining walls are fragmentary, any surviving portions now being buried beneath rubble and debris, which also fills the interior of the two lower storeys. The building evidently comprised at least three storeys, and appears to have measured about 15.8 m from SW to NE by 11.3m transversely over walls having a thickness of some 2.3m at second-floor level. The masonry is of local random rubble well bonded with pinnings. Some of the dressings, including window-jambs, are of a coarse-grained buff coloured sandstone, possibly derived from Bridge of Awe (RCAHMS 1975 No. 354), but the surviving window-sills, the lowermost quoins of the E angle, and the splayed offset-course that forms the uppermost member of a base-plinth which extends along the SE wall, are of schist. This plinth is roughly formed, having an average projection of about 0.5 m, while above it the SE wall rises with a pronounced batter.

Towards the NE end of the SE wall there are the remains of an entrance-doorway situated immediately above the base-plinth. The dressed jambs of the opening have been removed, and the slab-lintelled ingoes blocked with fallen rubble from within, but a draw-bar tunnel can be seen in the SW jamb with a corresponding socket on the opposite side. This doorway evidently gave access to the basement; its height cannot have exceeded 1·4 m, and the approach must have been made by way of a ladder or timber forestair. The principal entrance was probably situated on the other side of the building, or in the SW gable-wall, at first-floor level. Further SW in the SE wall, and at about the same height as the doorway, there may be seen two latrine-chutes, the NE one probably having served a garderobe at first-floor level, and its neighbour one at second-floor level. There are also two openings at first-floor level towards the NE end of the wall, the SW one being a window and the NE one a latrine-chute serving a second-floor garderobe in the E corner of the building.

The only visible internal feature relating to the two lower floors of the building is a chimneyed fireplace in the centre of the SE wall at first-floor level. There is no evidence to indicate whether or not the basement was vaulted, but the upper floors appear to have been of timber. Two windows remain in the SE wall at second floor level, the NE one apparently having been provided with bench-seats set within an arched embrasure. The daylight-opening measured 0.45 m in width and the jambs were wrought with plain 0.12 m chamfers. The SW window, which was similarly moulded, had a daylight-opening of 0.35 m; both windows had central iron stanchions. Between the windows there may be seen what appears to be a fragment of a transverse partition-wall, suggesting that at this level the building was sub-divided to contain two main apartments, each served by one of the latrines to which reference has already been made.

Except on the SE side, where the tower-house stands directly above the shore, the E portion of the islet appears to have been enclosed by a stone wall. This is now very ruinous, but some sections show evidence of lime mortar construction. At the point A on the sketch-plan (Fig. 169) there may be seen what appears to be the jamb of an entrance-doorway, while at B there are the remains of a small sub-rectangular building measuring about 16.1 m from SW to NE by 10.0 m transversely over all. This appears to have been of dry-stone construction and to have comprised two apartments. Lying on the surface of the enclosure-wall near the NE extremity of the island there is a broken millstone of schist measuring 0.81 m in diameter.

Almost nothing is known of the history of this castle, which appears to have been an early stronghold of the Campbells of Craignish. According to a traditional history of the family, the name Caisteal na Nighinn Ruaidhe ('castle of the red-haired maiden') derives from Bridget, daughter of the toiseach of Loch Avich, by whose marriage to Dugald Campbell of Craignish (d.1220) the lands and castle of Loch Avich came into the possession of the Campbells. The first, and almost the only, reference to the castle in early written record, however, occurs in a charter of 1414 by which Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochawe granted four penny lands of Loch Avich, together with certain other properties, to Ronald Campbell of Craignish, his kinsman. By the terms of this charter Ronald was to become constable of the castles of Craignish and Loch Avich on behalf of Sir Duncan and his heirs, provided that he built up and roofed the two castles. The existing structure is so ruinous that its age is difficult to ascertain, but in size and plan-form the building bears a considerable resemblance to the nearby castle of Fincham, Loch Awe, which may be as old as the 13th century. The lands of Loch Avich were held by the Campbells of Craignish until at least as late as the 16th century, and an associated office of sergeanty until the 18th century, but nothing more is heard of the castle (n.1).

RCAHMS 1975, visited June 1971

n1. Origines Parochiales, ii, part i, 125; Campbell, A, 'The Manuscript History of Craignish', SHS Misc., iv (1926), 207, 224, 271- 2, 292-3; Dunstaffnage Case, 353-4.

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