Forter Castle, Angus
Photo © Tom Pennington, 22 July 2008
Forter Castle, Angus
Photo © Tom Pennington, 22 July 2008
Forter Castle, Angus Photo © Tom Pennington, 22 July 2008 |
Forter Castle, Angus Photo © Tom Pennington, 22 July 2008 |
Forter Castle was built by the Ogilvys of Airlie as a fortified house in 1560. It was stormed along with Airlie Castle by the Campbells of Inverewe in 1640 on the instructions of Archibald Campbell, the 8th Earl of Argyll (1598 - 1661). After more than 300 years the castle has recently been fully restored and is now run as holiday accomodation.
FORTER CASTLE, FORFARSHIRE.
This ruinous structure is situated at the northern base of Mount Blair, amid the wild scenery of Glen Isla, about twelve miles north of Alyth. The building consists of an oblong block measuring about 39 feet by 26 feet 6 inches, with a tower at the south-east corner measuring about 21 feet square, so that the castle is thus a variation of the L Plan. The entrance is in the tower in the re entering angle, which also contains the stair to the first floor, at which level it stops, and the ascent is continued in the turret. Above the main stair landing the ceiling is vaulted. On the ground floor the main building was divided into three vaulted compartments, with a passage leading to them. One of these was the kitchen, with an unusually wide fireplace, being about 19 feet by about 4 feet in depth. The first floor contains the hall, measuring about 32 feet by 19 feet, with a large fireplace on the south side, the back of which has fallen out beneath the saving arch. There is another fireplace in the west end of the hall, adjoining which, on the south side, there has been a mural chamber with a small window. Above the hall there appears to have been second and third floors with an attic. These were probably divided into two or three apartments on each floor; entering from the third floor there were angle turrets corbelled out at the north-east and north-west corners.
The lands were granted at an early date by the Dorwards to the Abbey of Coupar, but afterwards passed into the hands of the Ogilvies. Forter Castle was burnt in 1640 by the Earl of Argyll during the absence of the proprietor, Lord Ogilvy. Lady Ogilvy was driven from the house, and on this incident is founded, says Mr. Jervise, the ballad of the Bonny House of Airlie.
The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland by David Macgibbon and Thomas Ross, 1889