Rait Castle

Rait Castle

Ruins of Rait Castle
Rait Castle
Coordinates 57°32′58″N 3°51′00″W / 57.5494°N 3.8499°W / 57.5494; -3.8499Coordinates: 57°32′58″N 3°51′00″W / 57.5494°N 3.8499°W / 57.5494; -3.8499
Site information
Owner Earl Cawdor[1]
Site history
Built 13th century
Materials Granite[2]
Runis of Rait Castle in winter

Rait Castle is a ruined hall-house castle dating from the thirteenth century, situated just south of Nairn near Inverness, Scotland.[3]

Architecture

The remains of the courtyard walls are nine feet high and also contain the remains of the Chapel of St Mary of Rait.[4] The building was a two story building, measuring 20 metres by 10 metres.[5] It had an unvaulted basement and an upper hall.[5] The hall was entered from the outside and was protected by a portcullis and a drawbar.[5] The walls of the castle are nearly 6 feet thick.[2] A tower projects from one corner of the castle and there is a garderobe tower on the west side that projects nearly 13 feet.[2]

History

The castle was originally a property of the Cumming (Comyn) family who were also known by the name of de Rait.[1] Sir Alexander Rait killed the third Thane of Cawdor (chief of Clan Calder), and then fled south where he married the heiress of Hallgreen.[3] The castle later passed from the Clan Cumming (Comyn) to the Clan Mackintosh and then to the Clan Campbell of Cawdor.[3]

In 1442,[1] when the castle passed to the Mackintoshes from the Clan Cumming (Clan Comyn) a feast was held at the castle between the two families which ended in the slaughter of most of the Comyns.[6] The laird blamed his daughter who he chased around the castle.[6] She climbed out of a window but he chopped off her hands and she fell to her death.[6] The castle is said to be haunted by her ghost,[6] with no hands.[1]

The Duke of Cumberland is said to have stayed at the castle before the Battle of Culloden in 1746,[3] although the last recorded reference to the castle was in 1596.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mackenzie, Steven (BBC Highlands and Islands reporter). Haunted castle: The ruin with a colourful past, 14 May, 2013 bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rait Castle - Archeological Notes rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 September, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. pp. 486. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
  4. ↑ Save Rait Castle saveraitcastle.org. Retrieved 14 September, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Rait Castle - Architecture saveraitcastle.org. Retrieved 14 September, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Coventry. (2008) pp. 383.

External links

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