Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

ID: QZP40_352_FM_P008 DESCRIPTION: A recent survey by Field Archaeology Specialists Ltd (FAS) of the University of York has prompted the history of this site to be rewritten. It had previously been believed that two castles had been built here by the Earls of Caithness, one in the 15th century and the second at the beginning of the 17th century. The main structure became known as Castle Girnigoe and the other Castle Sinclair. It was thought that both had been destroyed by cannon during a siege in 1690. However, the survey by FAS found that there had only ever been one castle on the site. Construction had begun as early as the late 14th century and the buildings had been added to over the years with the final additions made in the 17th century. In 1606 the Earl of Caithness had obtained an Act of Parliament to change the name of the Castle from Castle Girnigoe to Castle Sinclair but both names remained in use which led to the confusion and error that there were two Castles on the site. Castle Sinclair Girnigoe opened to the public on 1 August 2010 after a decade-long restoration project costing £700,000. A further two phases are planned which will turn the building into a major tourist attraction. This illustration was taken from 'Antiquities and Scenery of the North of Scotland, in a series of letters to Thomas Pennant Esq.', by Rev Charles Cordiner, Minister of St Andrew's Chapel, Banff (1780) PLACENAME: Wick DISTRICT: Eastern Caithness OLD COUNTY/PARISH: CAITHNESS: Wick CREATOR (AV): C Cordiner DATE OF IMAGE: 1780 PERIOD: 1780s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Fraser Mackintosh Collection (illustrations) Asset ID: 31185 KEYWORDS: