Cubbie Roos Castle

Cubbie Roos Castle is a small castle complex within a circular ditch on the island of Wyre in Orkney. The oldest part of the castle is probably the circular ditch which has external and internal banks, in the centre of which is a square tower. The innermost bank is the remnant of a stone courtyard wall, indicating that these features are broadly contemporary. The tower was extended on a number of occasions, and the complex eventually extended across the southern part of the earthworks, which were levelled.

The castle is mentioned as having been built by Kolbein Hruga in 1150 and was mentioned in 1231 in the Haakonar Saga as still formidable, so we can assume that it was occupied during this period, but the history is very fragmentary. The 1231 mention is part of the description of events following the assassination of Earl Jon Haraldsson, which was a period of turbulence in the Orkney Earldom. It is feasible that the castle was destroyed at this time and never came back into use, and it is likely that by the time Orkney became part of the Kingdom of Scotland rather than Norway, it was no longer in use other than perhaps as a farmstead or manor. Today it is free to access, and managed by Historic Environment Scotland.

Official Historic Scotland page

HES Canmore database entry