Auchindoun Castle

Auchindoun Castle - Photo © Anne Burgess, 24 June 2009

Auchindoun Castle - Photo © Anne Burgess, 24 June 2009

Auchindoun Castle - Photo © Anne Burgess, 24 June 2009

Auchindoun Castle is a 15th century L-Plan tower castle located in Auchindoun near Dufftown in the Moray region of Scotland.

While there is evidence of prehistoric, probably Pictish earthworks in the grounds of the castle, the remains most visible today are of the castle constructed in the mid 15th century by Thomas Cochran (later to become an Earl of Mar (1458-79). It was passed to the Clan Ogilvy in 1489 and from them to the Clan Gordon in 1535.

An extension is known to have been added in the 16th century by the Gordons before the Ogilvys reclaimed it in 1594, it having been destroyed by the Clan MacKintosh in 1592. Following the Restoration of Charles II, the castle was awarded to the Marquis of Huntly.

The castle was derelict by 1725. Stones taken from the castle have been used in local farm buildings and nearby Balvenie Castle.

While standing, the castle had a large central tower and high curtain wall. Supporting buildings including a stable, brewery and bakery stood inside the wall. A second round tower guarded the northwest corner of the compound. Cellars and possibly dungeons were dug directly into the bedrock beneath the tower. Today much of the curtain wall and some of the outbuildings remain, but the central tower itself is very dilapidated.

The ruins of the castle are in the care of Historic Scotland, but were for many years in too dangerous a condition to be open to the public. On the completion of consolidation works, Auchindoun was re-opned for public viewing in November 2007.

The sacking of Auchindoun by the Clan MacKintosh inspired a traditional song, "The Burning of Auchindoun" (lyrics courtesy of the Digital Tradition Folk Music Database), Child Ballad 183, "Willie MacIntosh":

As I cam' in by Fiddichside, on a May morning
I spied Willie MacIntosh an hour before the dawning

Turn agin, turn agin, turn agin, I bid ye
If ye burn Auchindoun, Huntly he will heid ye

Heid me or hang me, that shall never fear me
I'll burn Auchindoun though the life leaves me

As I cam' in by Auchindoun on a may morning
Auchindoun was in a bleeze, an hour before the dawning

Crawing, crawing, for a' your crouse crawin'
Ye brunt your crop an' tint your wings an hour before the dawning

Trivia

• There is a location in WarCraft lore called Auchindoun ; it is featured as a multi-winged instance Dungeon in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. It is presumably named after Auchindoun Castle.
• The castle lends its name to a class house at Oldmachar Academy in nearby Aberdeen, where classes are named after castles in Scotland.