Noltland Castle

Noltland Castle is a ruined castle on the Scottish Orkney island of Westray. In 1971 the building was added to the Scottish lists of monuments in the highest category A. In addition, the facility is classified as a Scheduled Monument.

History

Gilbert Balfour, probably, Lord Darnley played a significant role in the murder of Henry Stuart at the court of Mary Queen of Scots, was given dominion over the island of Westray in 1560 by his brother Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney. Noltland Castle was built 1560-1572, but was never completed. After the murder of Lord Darnley Balfour moved back to the Orkney Islands, where he hoped for a certain security. Although Balfour was involved in combat operations in favor of the Queen on the Mainland, procured Mary's half-brother Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney its expropriation.

Around 1572 had to be Noltland Castle have been at least partially habitable, because Stewart demanded the evacuation of the building. Gilbert Balfour fled to Sweden, but Noltland Castle remained until 1594 as a family owned it on the instructions of Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney was besieged and taken. 1606 was sold to John Arnot. 1650 fleeing troops quartered at James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose in Noltland a Castle, which was besieged and burned to the ground in the wake of Covenanters. In 1911 the castle was property of the state.

Description

Noltland Castle is isolated near the coast in the north Westrays. The building dates largely from the 16th century, with some additions in the south from the 17th century come. The four-story building has a Z-shaped floor plan consisting of an oblong building with a diagonally opposed towers. The tower in the northeast is five stories high. The masonry consists of rubble stone with ribbons of red sandstone. In the outer walls of the heavily fortified building comprises 71 embrasures are embedded. From the overhanging, crenellated parapet approaches are only obtained.

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