Aerial of Dunnottar

Inverugie Castle 

Keith Light Horse

Keith & Douglas

Berwick Town Walls 

Braal Castle

 Click on illustration to view larger example

Keith Marischal Tower as it may have been in 1590, built on the site of the original Humbie Castle (destroyed in 1548) The 1590 tower is now part of an 1889 baronialized country house. ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 1999

Castle of the Star (Spain)

BATTLE OF TEBA 1330  In 1329 King Robert the Bruce of Scots (1306-1329) on his death bed insisted that after his death, his friend the 'Good Sir James' Douglas should cut out his heart and carry it in a casket on a pilgrimage to the holy lands. Douglas did as he was commanded and in 1330 he along with the Sinclairs of Roslin and Keith the Marishal with several other Lords of note set sail for the holy lands.

Unfortunately they only got as far as southern Spain ,where they became embroiled in the battle of Teba besieging the Moorish castle of the Star on behalf of their new found Spanish allies. During the battle the Moors feint a retreat drawing Douglas and his knights into an ambush. The Spanish were wise to such tactics and did not follow Douglas into the trap. Somehow, Douglas was able to fight his way clear but turned back into the fray on seeing Sinclair encircled by the Moors and about to be slain.  

Historians have debated as to why the Moors picked on Sinclair as a prime target rather than Douglas who was certainly the most important Scottish knight present. It appears the Moors, though an extremely intelligent society, were totally ignorant to the significance of western heraldry. They were use to fighting English knights with red crosses on their surcoats and shields and French knights with white crosses. So when Douglas came along with three stars on his coat this meant nothing to them, whereas Sinclair had a great black cross on his surcoat and shield. He must be a really important leader.

 As Sinclair fell under many blows, Douglas realizing he too was about to die tore the casket containing Bruce's heart from round his neck and threw it at the Moors following his king into battle for one last time. Soon after the Castle of the Star was taken by the Spanish/Scots forces. Both Douglas and Sinclairs's bodies were recovered along with Bruce's heart which was taken home to Scotland and buried at Melrose Abbey where it remains to this day. ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 1999

Dunnottar Castle as it may have appeared in 1600 ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 1999

Aerial View of Dunnottar Castle ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 1999

Ackergill Castle 

Anciently a third of the lands of Caithness, were held by the Cheyne family. Around 1350 (some accounts claim 1354) Reginald Cheyne, the Clan head, died ending the male line of descent, leaving two daughters to inherit the Cheyne estates. One of his daughters married on to the Keiths while the other is alleged to have married on to the Sinclairs, dividing the estate into two. Which would explain why the Keith tower of Ackergill is only one mile away from the Sinclair fortalice of Girnigoe. However this alleged marriage appears false since the Sinclair claim to Caithness was based on the original Jarldom of Orkney and Caithness so in theory they also held rights to the lands of Ackergill. The two castles of Ackergill and Girnigoe held by two rival families so close together was bound to lead to violence. Not only between the Keiths and Sinclairs, but with the Sunderlands, Oliphants and Mackays who also held lands around Caithness. In fact, these feuds got so out of hand that even the Campbells from further a field got involved. It is also stated that Reginald Cheyne's second daughter in actual fact married Nicholas Sutherland since this was how the Sutherlands obtained the Cheyne castles of Old Wick and Berriedale which then passed to the Oliphants and Forse castle which passed to the Keiths. Interestingly both Old Wick and Berriedale were later annexed by the belligerent Sinclairs in their attempts to rule the whole of Caithness.

In I544 George, 4th Earl of Caithness, seized the Episcopal fortress of Scrabster castle, north of Thurso, from Alexander Gordon, a son of the Earl of Sunderland who had been installed as a temporary Bishop while the Bishop of Caithness was banished. Later when the Earl of Sunderland was made hereditary keeper of Scrabster castle it was described as being "situated among the wild and uncivilized Scots". This phase though directed at the Caithness area in general surely sums up the lifestyle of the Sinclairs of Caithness. In 1547 George sallied forth from Girnigoe to attack and seize Ackergill castle, taking Alexander Keith said captain and his servant John Skarlet hostage. Detaining them not only at Girnigoe but at the moated oblong tower house of Braal near the river Thurso, which had only recently passed to the Sinclairs from the Crichton family. Why Keith and Skarlet were moved between these two strong castles and other unspecified locations is unclear. Likely it was in case the Keiths mounted a rescue attempt. Or it may be that any assault on Ackergill by the Keiths would result in the deaths of the hostages. So Keith and Skarlet were bargaining chips.

Despite his high handed behavior George was given remission for his actions by Queen Mary the Regent (Mary Queen of Scots mother). By 1549 Queen Mary installed Lord Oliphant as keeper of Ackergill possibly to separate the feuding Keiths and Sinclairs until a more permanent solution regarding ownership of Ackergill could be arranged. Also in 1549 George was distracted from this feud, for a time, while be began building the long Z-plan tower house of Barrogill castle near John O' Groats, known today as Castle Mey held by Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In 1556 George again besieged Ackergill when it was in the hands of William Keith Earl Marischal. This time though he appears to have stormed the barmkin wall but been unable to secure the tower house. Yet again he was given remission for his actions which angered the Keiths. ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 1999

Inverugie Castle 

Some two miles from Peterhead on the north east coast of Scotland, on a hill above the river Ugie sits a small mound only three metres high. This is all that remains of the first wooden 'Motte and Bailey' castle of Inverugie raised by the Cheynne family in the 12th century. The name 'Inver ' means beside or on usually with reference to a river. Hence Inver-Ugie is, simply put, the castle beside the river Ugie. Such early wooden castle structures usually consisted of a high mound (Motte) capped by a wooden palisade around a tall wooden tower with angled roof covered in animal hides to help make it semi fire resistant.

In the mid 14th century the estate of Inverugie passed to the Keith Earl Marischals who's main seat was the coastal fortress of Dunnottar castle near Stonehaven south of Aberdeen. They built the present ruined stone castle of Inverugie to the south of the original wooden Motte around 1660. Though there must have been an intermediate tower house on or near the site of the present ruin. As it would be ridiculous to suggest the Keiths would reside in the Cheynne's dilapidated cow urine/clay washed Motte tower for three centuries before considering building a more up to date dwelling place.

The stone castle was built by the 4th Earl Marischal as a more comfortable seat to Dunnottar since it's devastation by Oliver Cromwell in his failed pursuit of the Scots regalia used to crown King Charles II. Inverugie was a long oblong tower house four storeys high with crow stepped gables of mixed rubble construction. Which suggests the incorporation of materials taken from an earlier stone building. There were also two large conical roofed round towers, one at the north-east corner and the other at the south-east corner. This was an odd plan, usually such round towers were set at diagonal corners in the classic Z-plan arrangement. On the middle of the west side was a third narrow tower containing the main turnpike staircase. This faced out to the cobbled courtyard with it's enclosing wall beside the river Ugie. To the south of the site was the original courtyard entrance with additional buildings possibly built after 1660. Above this entrance was a date stone of 1670 with the coats of arms of Keith and Douglas of Morton. In the late 1800's an oak carved Heraldry shield was discovered in a nearby cottage with the arms of William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal and his wife Anna Douglas, the daughter of the Earl of Morton though it's date was carved as 1660.

The basement vault of the oblong tower house contained the storage area and kitchen entered from courtyard level. The next level was the great hall where the Keiths would have wined and dined their honoured guests. In the north and south corners of the hall were doors to small interior turnpike stairs accessing both round towers. The remaining two levels were bedrooms and possibly a chapel. There was also small private apartments in each of the round towers with extra toilets. Although several of the west facing windows were large they were protected by metal cages and interior bars for extra security. There is a distinct lack of gun loops for small arms fire which is unusual since the 1660's were still troublesome times. By the early 1800's Inverugie had passed from the Keiths to a James Ferguson who apparently kept the building in perfect order until his death in 1820. It was then ransacked and the roof and flooring stolen. In 1899 for some long forgotten reason Inverugie was blown up. By who and why is a puzzle. ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 1999

Keith Light Horse - Bannockburn ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 1999

Keith & Douglas Horsemen - Bannockburn ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 1999

Berwick-Upon-Tweed - Castle & Town Walls

Berwick was originally a Scottish town. Early records indicate that the Keiths were sometimes Governors of Berwick prior to it's occupation by the English. The Dixon surname is associated with the East Scottish & English Marches and can be found on both sides of the border near Berwick. - Webmaster

Today the fragmented medieval ruin of Berwick castle beside the Victorian train station and Royal border bridge is a shell of it's former glory, originally a great Scottish fortress fought over by the Scots and the English for centuries. If it's stones could talk what tales they could tell invasions, massacres, wars, hostage taking and the like.

In 1296 King Edward I of England, the "Hammer of the Scots" invaded Scotland besieging Berwick castle and it's town "walls" (actually a wooden palisade). Edward and his army entered the town by surprise spending three days ruthlessly killing almost the entire civilian population. While the castle's garrison led by William "the hardy" Douglas could do nothing in their defence.

Sadly this slaughter of innocent civilians is not confined to the pages of the past but has been repeated again and again throughout history. Even in the recent Balkans conflict some 700 years after the Berwick massacre. Edward eventually ended the carnage on seeing a pregnant woman giving birth being hacked to death by his men.

When the castle finally fell, surprisingly Edward let the Scots garrison flee with their lives. While Douglas was incarcerated in the "Hog's Tower". Edward's army moved on to defeat the Scots army at the battle of Dunbar (where it's claimed a rogue called William Wallace stole from the bodies of the dead both Scots and English alike) The alleged stone of Destiny used to crown Scottish Kings was also stolen from Scone by the English and taken to London. Douglas under duress swore allegiance to King Edward to escape imprisonment, but later in 1297 he joined William Wallace in rebellion against the English invaders. In retaliation his own castle of Douglas in Lanarkshire was stormed by Edward's lackie Robert Bruce (later King Robert I 1306-1329) with Douglas's wife and children, including a young man called James (later Bruce's "Good Sir James" Douglas) taken hostage and handed over to Edward's wrath. Douglas for the sake of his family surrendered and was taken to York castle in chains where he died of ill-treatment in 1302. Three years later Wallace was also captured then hung ,drawn, castrated, disemboweled and beheaded for his campaign of rebellion, with his head placed on a stake above London bridge while the remaining parts of his body were sent North to Scotland for public display. Eventually one of his legs was nailed above the gatehouse of Berwick's town walls as a reminder of Edward's justice and a warning to any would-be Scots rebels living nearby.

Likely Douglas's own harrowing account of the Berwick massacre, his inability to protect the civilians and his own death at the hands of the English at York moulded young James Douglas's character into a violent, vindictive killer, whose guerilla campaign against the English earned him the title the "Black" Douglas, a token reference to his dark skin and black hair but more fully a reference to his black nature in warfare. For example he beheaded the entire English garrison in his own castle of Douglas leaving their bodies in the vaults beside spilt grain and wine before setting the castle on fire and for good measure he chopped up their horses dumping the animal parts into the castle's well along with salt to spoil the water supply. The whole event became known as the "Douglas larder".

In 1306 the Countess of Buchan was imprisoned in a cage above Berwick's town walls for the crime of crowning King Robert the Bruce. At the same time Bruce's sister Mary was held in a cage above Roxburgh castle, another Scottish monument occupied by hostile English. In 1307 Edward I died en route to invade the west of Scotland. His son Edward II lacking the military prowess of his father turned back to England, giving the Bruce and his "Good Sir James" Douglas time to gather support for their rebellion. In 1314 Douglas made an abortive assault on Berwick castle, but was successful in taking Roxburgh using the same tactics, attacking at night with specialized rope ladders. Also in that same year the Bruce defeated Edward II's army at the battle of BannockBurn, near Stirling. Edward pursued by Douglas fled to the coastal fortress of Dunbar where he and some of his men escaped by boat to the security of Berwick then still in English hands.

In 1318 Douglas captured Berwick Town and starved it's castle garrison into surrender in some small way obtaining revenge for his father's death and the massacre of 1296. Though the English did make several unsuccessful attempts to recapture the castle and Town in 1319. In 1329 King Robert the Bruce on his deathbed insisted that after his death Douglas should cut out his heart and carry it on a pilgrimage to the holy lands. Douglas did as he was commanded, unfortunately in 1330 he only got as far as southern Spain, where he died at the battle of Teba. Legend claims Douglas realizing he was going to die, tore the casket containing Bruce's heart from round his neck and threw it at the Moors crying "forward" following his friend into battle for one last time.

Douglas's body was recovered and boiled so his skeleton could be returned to Scotland along with Bruce's heart. Douglas was interred at St Brides church while Bruce's heart was taken to Melrose Abbey where it remains to this day. After 1330 the Douglas heraldry was amended with a red heart on their surcoats, shields and banners representing the King's heart and turning Douglas's death at Teba into a legend.

In 1333 Douglas's brother Archibald was killed at the battle of Halidon hill, failing to save Berwick town and castle from falling back into the hands of the English led by King Edward III. In 1355 Archibald's son William (later 1st Earl of Douglas) with Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March and William Ramsay of Dalhousie routed almost the entire English garrison from Norham in an ambush at the battle of Nisbet, near Duns. Fearing for the security of the token garrison left at Norham the English unwittingly sent most of their troops from Berwick. Instead though the Scots led by Dunbar and against William Douglas's wishes stormed Berwick town setting it ablaze as they were unable to secure the castle and had to withdraw when more English reinforcements suddenly arrived. In reply many Scots villages were burnt.

In 1378 squire Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie with 50 men seized Berwick castle by scaling the walls at night surprising the bewildered garrison who abandoned their posts and fled to Berwick town. Ramsay found himself in a bit of a dilemma as the town was still held by Governor Thomas De Musgrave who called on the Earl of Northumberland with his young son Harry (later the infamous "Hotspur" Percy) and an army said to number in thousands drawn from Alnwick and Warkworth to besiege the castle. Ramsay and his men made a stout resistance but lacking sufficient manpower and munitions it was only a matter of time until they would be defeated.

The seizing of Berwick castle appears to have been done without the permission of King Robert II of Scots (1371-1390) or the border Lords whose responsibility it was to protect the peace, but also to wage war when the time and prize was right. An organised combined attack on Berwick by the Scots should have involved taking the castle and town at the same time with enough men and supplies to hold both against the evicted English. Ramsay's actions though daring would cause more trouble than they were worth as the English would, by border tradition, have to retaliate in a "eye for eye" policy. So the whole Scots border was on alert for the counter attack which could come anywhere at anytime. Ramsay was not popular on both sides of the border.

Despite this his Uncle Archibald "the Grim" Douglas (an illegitimate son of the "Black" Douglas) and Lord Lyndsay of the Byres massed a relief army at Haddington, little more than 500 in number and marched south to Berwick hoping to collect more men on the way. But many of the Scots borderers were hostile to a rescue attempt or diversion to help Ramsay escape as they felt he deserved to be captured by the English for his rash act. When Archibald's army approached Berwick his scouts informed him that the English army encircled around the castle numbered around 10,000 strong with archers, siege engines, heavy horse and ships blockading the river. There was no avenue of escape for his nephew. Archibald then made a lengthy speech to his army praising Ramsay and his men as heros but that in all fairness it would be suicidal for them to engage the English in open battle or attempt a diversion as they were totally outnumbered. Reluctantly the army withdrew heading towards Melrose to support local forces in resisting the expected English counter attack.

Archibald's presence had not gone unnoticed by the English as Thomas De Musgrave and several units of heavy horse quickly pursued, catching the Scots just short of Melrose. Fortunately Archibald's army was joined by his cousin William 1st Earl of Douglas with his son James (later 2nd Earl of Douglas) also George Dunbar 10th Earl of March and his vassal Sir John Gordon. During the ensuing battle of Melrose Musgrave was unhorsed and forced to yield for ransom by Gordon. While young James Douglas and other Scots squires distinguished themselves in the fray. With Musgrave and other unit leaders captured, the remaining English not already slain fled back to Berwick with news of their defeat.

After the battle William Douglas knighted his son James since he had proved himself in battle. Archibald also knighted some of the other squires in the euphoria of victory and the prospect of much gold and silver for Musgrave and the other hostages safe return. The English complained "the Earl of March and Douglas and the latter's cousin Sir Archibald, are harassing the English Borderers by imprisonments, ransoms and otherwise". Meanwhile Berwick castle with it's walls breached was entered by storm and all the Scots slain aside from Ramsay who was taken hostage as a bargaining chip to be used in ransom deals yet to be made between the Scots and English Borderers. But whose to say the Scots wanted Ramsay back, that in itself is another story.

Today the ruin of Berwick castle originally a piece of Scotland is a sad shell of it's former strength, besieged and occupied again and again by the English. Until finally even the border was moved further into Scotland to accommodate Berwick as an "English" castle and burgh denying it's Scottish roots. ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland 

Girnigoe/Sinclair Castle, Caithness - (opposite Ackergill Tower)

In the far north of the Scots kingdom some ten miles south of John O' Groats and one mile east of Ackergill castle, perched on a semi detached rocky promontory jutting out into Sinclairs Bay, stands the desolate ruins of Girnigoe castle. Not one but in fact two distinct castles. The first being the 15th century adapted L-plan crowstepped gabled towerhouse of Girnigoe and the second building inland on the site of the earlier courtyard a 17th century cluster of towers known as Sinclair castle. The latter though is in a very ruined state. 

These two castles were separated by a rock cut ravine spanned by a collapsible wooden bridge below the ornate oriel window added to Girnigoe in the 16th century. On the side of the L-plan tower is the suggestion of a postern entrance probably reached by a collapsible wooden staircase. Above this entrance at gable level are several corbels which may indicate a defensive overhang. Not only to defend the postern but to ensure the destruction of the staircase to prevent access by hostile forces during times of siege. 

The first reconstruction painting shows Girnigoe castle as it may have been in 1590 with the oriel window and outer courtyard prior to the building of Sinclair castle. While the second air view reconstruction shows both Girnige and Sinclair castles as they may have been in the early 1600's. Girnigoe castle was one of many castles throughout Scotland and the Islands (Orkney and Shetland) held by the ancient "Lordly line of high St.Clair" (Sinclair). In particular the Sinclairs Earls of Caithness. 

William Sinclair was created Earl of Caithness in 1455 by King James II of Scots (1437-1460). By 1470 William reluctantly resigned his title Earl of Orkney with his encompassing Island estates, including his castle of Kirkwall to King James III of Scots (1460-1488) in exchange for the incomplete castle of Ravenscraig on the Fifeshire coast and other token lands. The resigned Orkney estate was then used as a dowry for the King's marriage to Princess Margaret of Denmark. In effect Orkney became a Stewart interest much to the dismay of the disinherited Sinclairs, who continued to interfere in the Orkney estates. Notably in 1529 at the battle of Summerdale north of Kirkwall when George 3rd Earl of Caithness was slain along with all of his men while fighting his own distant kin the Sinclairs of Orkney on behalf of King James V of Scots (1513-1542) and again during the reign of King James VI of Scots (1567-1603) when George 5th Earl of Caithness sent another Sinclair army which successfully routed the Stewart rebels led by Patrick Stewart Earl of Orkney.

William as 1st Earl of Caithness and Earl or 'Jarl' of Orkney is most noted in history for the construction of Roslin castle and the ornate Rosslyn chapel in Mid Lothian in the 1440's. His son, also William,2nd Earl of Caithness built Girnigoe and the castle of Knockkinnan near Dunbeath some time after 1470 and before his death at the battle of Flodden in 1513 along with King James IV of Scots (1488-1513). His son John then became 3rd Earl of Caithness and he too, as already noted, was slain in battle in 1529,leaving his son George to inherit Girnigoe as 4th Earl of Caithness.

Anciently a third of the lands of Caithness, including the future site of Girnigoe were held by the Cheyne family. Around 1350 (some accounts claim 1354) Reginald Cheyne, the Clan head, died ending the male line of descent, leaving two daughters to inherit the Cheyne estates. One of his daughters married on to the Keiths while the other is alleged to have married on to the Sinclairs, dividing the estate into two. Which would explain why the Keith tower of Ackergill is only one mile away from the Sinclair fortalice of Girnigoe. However this alleged marriage appears false since the Sinclair claim to Caithness was based on the original Jarldom of Orkney and Caithness so in theory they also held rights to the lands of Ackergill. The two castles of Ackergill and Girnigoe held by two rival families so close together was bound to lead to violence. Not only between the Keiths and Sinclairs but with the Sunderlands , Oliphants and Mackays who also held lands around Caithness. In fact these feuds got so out of hand that even the Campbells from further a field got involved. It is also stated that Reginald Cheyne's second daughter in actual fact married Nicholas Sutherland since this was how the Sutherlands obtained the Cheyne castles of Old Wick and Berriedale which then passed to the Oliphants and Forse castle which passed to the Keiths. Interestingly both Old Wick and Berriedale were later annexed by the belligerent Sinclairs in their attemps to rule the whole of Caithness.

In I544 George 4th Earl of Caithness seized the Episcopal fortress of Scrabster castle, north of Thurso, from Alexander Gordon, a son of the Earl of Sunderland who had been installed as a temporary Bishop while the Bishop of Caithness was banished. Later when the Earl of Sunderland was made hereditary keeper of Scrabster castle it was described as being "situated among the wild and uncivilised Scots". This phase though directed at the Caithness area in general surely sums up the lifestyle of the Sinclairs of Caithness.

In 1547 George sallied forth from Girnigoe to attack and seize Ackergill castle, taking Alexander Keith said captain and his servant John Skarlet hostage. Detaining them not only at Girnigoe but at the moated oblong towerhouse of Braal near the river Thurso. Which had only recently passed to the Sinclairs from the Crichton family. Why Keith and Skarlet were moved between these two strong castles and other unspecified locations is unclear. Likely it was in case the Keiths mounted a rescue attempt. Or it may be that any assault on Ackergill by the Keiths would result in the deaths of the hostages. So Keith and Skarlet were bargaining chips. 

Despite his highhanded behaviour George was given remission for his actions by Queen Mary the Regent (Mary Queen of Scots mother). By 1549 Queen Mary installed Lord Oliphant as keeper of Ackergill possibly to separate the feuding Keiths and Sinclairs until a more permanent solution regarding ownership of Ackergill could be arranged. Also in 1549 George was distracted from this feud,for a time,while be began building the long Z-plan towerhouse of Barrogill castle near John O' Groats, known today as Castle Mey held by Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In 1556 George again besieged Ackergill when it was in the hands of William Keith Earl Marischal. This time though he appears to have stormed the barmkin wall but been unable to secure the tower house. Yet again he was given remission for his actions which angered the Keiths.

George's attacks were not only confined to local rival Clans but on his own kin Sinclair of Dunbeath ,descended from a younger brother of the 3rd Earl of Caithness, noted in possession of Dunbeath castle in 1529,who built the L-plan towerhouse of Dounreay in the 1560's. As the dispute escalated Dounreay castle was besieged by a Sinclair army from Girnigoe. The outcome of the siege appears to be unrecorded.

In 1567 at Helmsdale castle during a banquet, George arranged for John 11th Earl of Sunderland, his wife Helen and family to be poisoned by Isobel Sinclair the Earl of Sunderland's aunt. The plan was that Isobel's son would inherit the Earldom of Sunderland. So these estates could be seized by the Sinclairs. However, her son was accidentally poisoned and died along with the other guests aside from the true heir who was able to escape and inherit as 12th Earl of Sunderland.

As time progressed George became so extreme in his activities that by 1571 he, it is alleged, even arrested his own son and heir, John, Master of Caithness, imprisoning him in one of the cells of Girnigoe on suspicion of rebelling against his rule as Justiciar of Caithness. Certainly in 1569 John had clashed with the Oliphants in the village of Wick resulting in him besieging Lord Oliphant in the oblong keep of Old Wick castle for eight days, until Lord Oliphant was obliged to surrender due to lack of food and water as noted in the report sent to the Privy Council. It appears the Sinclairs then continued to occupy Old Wick. And in 1570 John had burnt down Dornoch Cathedral and sacked the town. But there was no suggestion of him trying to seize Girnigoe or Knockkinnan. 

Surprisingly other historians have unearthed another reason for John's imprisonment. On one hand George as Justiciar of Caithness as an official had to be seen to rebuke his son. But apparently behind the scenes he was furious at his son's "lenity towards the town folk of Dornoch". John simply wasn't as ruthless and efficient as his father leaving witnesses behind to complain to the Privy Council. Because John took too long to die (seven years) his father had him fed on nothing but "salted beef, and then, with holding all drink from him, left him to die of a raging thirst". Although other accounts claim John died at Knockkinnan. 

In 1582 John's son George inherited as 5th Earl of Caithness. One of his first actions as Earl was to kill the two jailers responsible for his father's murder, for which he received a remission from the Privy Council as such action, was justifiable. He then started a raiding campaign against the Earl of Sunderland which was unacceptable to the Council and he was bound over to keep the peace. In 1588 he resisted a 12 day siege at Girnigoe by the Earl of Sunderland who failed to make a real impression so the surrounding lands were sacked and Keiss castle across the bay from Girnigoe was damaged before the raiders withdrew. George then repaired Girnigoe adding the ornate oriel window. Around the same time the Sinclair family as a whole undertook a great building work. In 1592 they added a new wing to Cadholl castle. In 1600 a cadet branch of the Dunbeath Sinclairs built the L-plan tower of Brimms castle at the same time as George rebuilt Keiss as a Z-plan tower. Also to keep up with his kin George began building the new cluster of towers in front of Girnigoe known as Sinclair castle as a symbol of his wealth and power. In 1606 he acquired Berriedale castle adding it to the long list of Sinclair strongholds throughout Caithness.

With his empire expanding George quickly ran short of funds so he resorted to minting his own forged coinage at Girnigoe castle to circulate throughout the North of Scotland to try and cover his many debts. He like his ancestors before him also interfered in local feuds when he sent Clan Gunn disguised as Clan MacKay of Dirlot castle (which originally belonged to the Gunns) to burn Lord Forbes corn. When the MacKays sent witnesses to prove they were innocent George had them drowned so no links could be traced back to him. In 1623 Girnigoe/Sinclair castle and Ackergill (which had recently passed legally to the Sinclairs) were stormed and sacked by Sir Robert Gordon of Sutherland. The Gordons also appear to have assaulted Braal but were unsuccessful in taking this tower but damaged the new Manor house which was under construction nearby.

In 1643 George died, as he was predeceased by his son, Lord Berriedale and grandson, the Master of Berriedale, his title and debts passed to his great grandson also George 6th Earl of Caithness. In 1651 Oliver Cromwell's troops seized and damaged Dunbeath, Dounreay and Ackergill. Cromwell also sent a garrison of 70 foot and 15 horse to hold Girnigoe/Sinclair castle. Despite family debts George started building Thurso castle and married a daughter of Campbell, Marquis of Argyll perhaps in an effort to cover his great grandfather's debts as the Campbells were major creditors. But when he died without issue in 1676,his widow married her own kinsman , Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy who then claimed Girnigoe/Sinclair castle and estates including the title Earl of Caithness. Which resulted in the rightful heir, George Sinclair of Keiss castle storming Girnigoe/Sinclair and Old Wick castles by force of arms in 1679 to contest his right as Earl of Caithness which had been denied him by law. In reply in 1680 the Campbells marched north in an attempt to seize Old Wick castle under cover of any early morning mist. Suddenly the fog cleared and the castle garrison raised the alarm sending riders to Girnigoe/Sinclair castle. The Campbells appeared to withdraw but split their forces into two to ambush and rout the Sinclair army from Girnigoe/Sinclair at the battle of Altimarlach some four miles from Wick. Girnigoe/Sinclair was then stormed by the Campbells and Keiss castle damaged (today there are still musket holes above the doorway of Keiss from this assault). In 1690 George Sinclair of Keiss again besieged Girnigoe/Sinclair castle this time with heavy cannon ironically destroying his inheritance. The castle though back in Sinclair hands with George as 7th Earl of Caithness was abandoned as a residence leaving the sad shell that remains today. ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland

Braal Castle, Caithness ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland

The reader is directed to narrative provided by Andrew Spratt on Girnigoe Castle. Braal was yet another place where Keith were held as prisioners by the Earls of Caithness. - Webmaster

Dirlot Castle, Caithness ©Andrew Spratt, Scotland

Dirlot Castle once belonged to Clan Gunn, traditional enemies of the Keith in Caithness. - Webmaster

If you would like more information on purchasing these prints or prints of other castles,
please email:  Andrew Spratt.