Alternative Names Barrogill Castle
Site type CASTLE
Canmore ID 8864
Site Number ND27SE 1.00
NGR ND 29032 73889
Council HIGHLAND
Parish CANISBAY
Former Region HIGHLAND
Former District CAITHNESS
Former County CAITHNESS

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Archaeological Notes

ND27SE 1.00 29032 73889.

ND27SE 1.01 2942 7384 Barrogill Mains Farmhouse; Farmsteading; Cottages
ND27SE 1.02 2895 7370 Castle of Mey Gate Lodge; Gate Piers

(ND 2902 7390) Castle of Mey (NR)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)

Architectural Notes

ND27SE 1.00 2902 7390.

Castle of Mey, formerly known as Barrogill Castle, has reverted to its original name. It is basically a late 16th century Z-plan castle but its appearance has been much altered by 19th century crenellation and heightening.
The main block, with thick walls and gunloops, is three storeys and an attic in height and lies E-W with a square wing projecting at the SW end and a smaller, square stair-tower to the NE, each rising a storey higher than the main building. An unusual feature is the massive chimney-stack at the E end. There is a curtain-walled courtyard, entered by a round-arched gateway, to the N.
The castle was built by the Sinclairs in 1567 and remained in their virtually unbroken possession until the late 19th century. After a period of neglect it was bought and restored by H M the Queen Mother about 1960.
RCAHMS 1911; N Tranter 1962-70; F H Groome 1901; HBD No. 1

Castle of Mey is architecturally as described above except the orientation of some features is incorrect. The 'square wing' is at the SE corncer and the 'smaller square stair-tower' is in the NW; the latter feature is the same height as the main block, not higher. The present, 19th century, entrance is in the S, but the original entrance was in the N. Later additions extend from the SW side and flank the E and W sides of the courtyard, which has the date '1762' above the arch leading into it.
Revised at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (J B) 4 April 1982.

As described in the RCAHMS Inventory of Caithness, this castle, also know as Barrogill, was originally laid out on a Z-plan. Likely to date from the period 1560-70, possibly on the site of an earlier building, the proviso should be made that the primary phase of construction might have continued over an extended period. The castle has also been extensively augmented at different periods. The courtyard walls abut the main structure and appear to be secondary to the original phase of building. They have also been extensively rebuilt. Considerable work was carried out c.1819 to the designs of the architect William Burn. These Tudor Gothic additions included a porch, two-storey west wing and the addition of decorative features including crenellation. It has been suggested that the two-storey west wing, which incorporates a dining-room at principal-floor level, was entirely work of the early 1950s, when renovations were carried out by architects Sinclair Macdonald of Thurso for HRH the Queen Mother. The evidence that complete rebuilding of this wing took place cannot yet, however, be fully substantiated. The likelihood is that it was extended by some 1.8m during the renovations works of the 1950s, some of the original walls having been retained and new windows inserted at both floor levels. At this time a carved panel by Hew Lorimer was built into the main front of this wing. The work executed in the 1950s also included the provision of a scullery block to the north of the west wing (an addition of c.1958) and the construction of a caretaker's house to the north-west corner of the courtyard. Maintenance and minor works were carried out by the architect Robert Beaton of Golspie in the 1980s. Refurbishment has recently been undertaken at the behest of The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust by the architect Lachlan Stewart of Portmahomack.
Information from RCAHMS
(NMC) August 2002

Close-Brooks, J (1995a) The Highlands, Exploring Scotland's Heritage series, ed. by Anna Ritchie Edinburgh
Page(s): 27, 101 Held at RCAHMS A.1.4.HER

Fenwick, H (1979b) 'The Castle of Mey', Scottish Tatler July/August
Page(s): 30-1 Held at RCAHMS D.6.13.MEY

Gifford, J (1992) Highland and Islands, The buildings of Scotland series London
Page(s): 112-3 Held at RCAHMS quick

Groome, F H (ed.) (1901) Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland, 5v Edinburgh
Page(s): 132 Held at RCAHMS B.2.GRO

Hamilton, A (1996) 'Castle of Mey [newscutting]', 16 September 1996
Held at RCAHMS Hi Ca.N

House and Garden v.7 no. 2 (Feb 1952) to v.23 no. 5 (June 1968). Missing issues: 7.3, 7.4, 7-6 to 7.12, 8.1 to 8.4, 11.4, 11.5, 11.7, 11.9 to 11.12, 12.1 to 18.5, 18.7 to 18.9, 18.11 to 20.9, 20.11 to 21.2, 21.4 to 23.2 and June 2006, London
Page(s): June 1954, page 31 Held at RCAHMS P.110

Miller, D B (1979b) 'Historic castles and families of the north. 10. The Castle of May- The Sinclairs of May, later earls of Caithness', Caithness Fld Club Bull, vol.2, 6 October
Page(s): 176-80

Moncrieffe, I (1963) 'Castle of Mey', Scot Fld, vol.110, 731 November
Page(s): 57-9, 61

Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust (2003) The castle and gardens of Mey: the royal heart of historic Caithness, Derby
Held at RCAHMS D.6.13.MEY

RCAHMS (1911b) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness, London
Page(s): 9-11, No. 31 plan Held at RCAHMS A.1.1.INV(3)

Richardson, J S (1952) The Castle of Mey, Caithness: guidance notes, Typescript
Held at RCAHMS D.6.13.MEY.P

The Scotsman (1996) Trust to take over royal holiday home [Castle of Mey, newscutting], The Scotsman 24 August 1996
Held at RCAHMS Hi Ca.N

Tranter, N (1962-70) 'The fortified house in Scotland', Edinburgh
Page(s): Vol. 5, 95-6 Held at RCAHMS F.5.21.TRA