Banff Castle

Banff Castle Details

Banff Castle, earthworks of C12 castle destroyed C14; remains of later courtyard wall and occupied C18 house on the site

  • Closest To: Banff
  • Access: Free Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NJ689642

The remains of Banff Castle consist of part of a walled courtyard and substantial earthworks from a royal castle dating back to the 13th century or earlier. Within the walls of the courtyard is an 18th century house bearing the same name.

The castle may have been founded by David I when that king established the royal borough of Banff, but the earliest mention of it in records is 1290, when it was given an English garrison during the Great Cause. Although it changed hands several times, Banff was the last castle in English hands north of the Grampians by 1309. Robert Bruce granted it to the Earl of Ross, and in 1396 Banff Castle and its associated estate passed to the earl of Buchan – whose successors retained it into the 17th century before selling it in 1636. The house was then built c1750, and the ruins of the old castle were eventually tidied up (ie largely removed) in 1815 – probably involving a certain amount of rebuilding of the curtain wall.

Today it is possible to walk around the outside of the house and within the grounds as it is held in public ownership.

HES Canmore database entry

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