Forse Castle, Scottish Highlands
Peter Gamble 27 June 2008
Forse Castle, Scottish Highlands
Peter Gamble 27 June 2008
Forse Castle is apparently of Norse origin and around 800 years old dating from approximately 1150-1250.
Forse Castle is a ruined building dating from 1200 in the hamlet of Forse in the Caithness region in the Scottish council area of Highland. The castle stands on a peninsula about 50 metres above sea level. It is surrounded on all sides by steep rocks and is cut off from the mainland by a natural ditch at the neck of the peninsula. Forse Castle came into the possession of the Sutherlands through marriage and was the stronghold of the Sutherlands of Forse, a cadet branch of the Clan Sutherland. They lived in it until around 1600.
FORSE CASTLE, Caithness-shire.
This castle stands upon a peninsula which rises to a considerable height above the sea, about two miles north of Latheron. The castle is surounded on all sides by steep rocks, and is cut off from the mainland by a natural ditch at the neck of the peninsula. At this ponit an approach or causeway has had to be built up to give access. Opposite this causeway stands the keep, a strong rectangle with thick walls, and still two stories in height. At the level of each floor the walls of the keep are thinned off so as to leave a set-off on the inside, which forms a rest for the joists. The ledges on the end walls, not being required for the joists, are at a slightly higher level than those of the side walls. Behind the keep lay the courtyard, which was of triangular shape, and had buildings nearly all round it. The entrance to the castle was along the east side of the keep, but not in line with the causeway, which no doubt was likewise defended with a drawbridge.
The keep occupies the highest point of the site, and the buildings round the courtyard, owing to the slope of the ground, have a basement floor below the level of the keep and the courtyard. These buildings no doubt contained the extended accommodation required when tlie keep alone was found insufficient, those on the east side being possibly stables and offices, and the block on the west dwellings.
The entrance passage to the courtyard has been protected in a peculiar manner. The passage is long and narrow, and is defended by a vaulted structure thi'own across it above the gateway. This contained a chamber, with an arched window over the gate, and may possibly have been used for working a portcullis.
The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland by David Macgibbon and Thomas Ross, 1889