Moniack Castle
Moniack Castle is a 16th-century tower house located 7 miles (11 km) west of Inverness, and just south of Beauly in Highland, Scotland. The castle was built in 1580 by members of the Clan Fraser. Today the castle grounds comprise a winery, which is still owned and operated by Frasers. The castle is protected as a category B listed building.[1]
The L-plan castle has been altered many times since its construction. The crenellated parapet was added in 1804 and the castle was extended in the 1830s. The interiors include a Roman Catholic chapel.[1] In the grounds of the castle is the Balblair Stone, a Pictish symbol stone, carved with the figure of a man, which was moved here from Kilmorack in 1903.[2][3]
Moniack Castle is the only castle that still belongs to a branch of the Lovat Frasers. This branch is known as the Moniack Frasers and is the largest off-shoot of the clan. It consists of over 150 descendants from the Hon. Alastair Fraser and Lady Sybil (née Grimstone). Alastair was given the castle by his elder brother, Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat, in 1926. The castle is occupied by the chief of the Moniack Frasers, Rory Fraser, known as "Moniack", and his family. Since 1978 the family have run a winery from the castle.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Moniack Castle, Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ↑ "Moniack Castle, Balblair Stone". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ↑ "Balblair, Balblair Stone". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- "Moniack Castle". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
External links
Coordinates: 57°27′35″N 4°24′56″W / 57.45972°N 4.41556°W