Thurso Castle
Thurso Castle Details
Thurso Castle, alleged site of Orkney Earls' castle destroyed C12; also of vanished C15 castle of Sinclairs. Later C19 mansion elsewhere.
- Closest To: Thurso
- Access: Free Public Access
- Grid Reference: ND112681
There are no visible remains of the medieval castle of Thurso, which is supposed to have occupied a site near or on that of Castlehill House, (illustrated), which is said to have been built in 1818 after the removal of the ruins. A building known as Ormlie Castle was recorded in the 16th and 17th century is also supposed to have occupied this site, but all records suggest that if there was a tower house here at this time, it was gone by the 18th century.
In 1664 the Earl of Caithness erected a mansion which he called Thurso Castle to the east of the river, drawings of which can still be seen. It survived until the 1870s, when it was demolished and a new castellated mansion built on the site. The mansion remains part-occupied, but the majority is derelict, having had its roof removed, and it is not publicly accessible.
HES Canmore database entry (old castle)
HES Canmore database entry (new castle)