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Ackergill Castle, Caithness
Map Ref: ND 353547
Ackergill Tower Photo Gallery
Ackergill Spring 2004
Ackergill
Tower Web Site - A modern high quality retreat for conferences,
weddings and more.
NOTE: The castle is not open to the general public.
Introduction
By Andrew Spratt
August 2000A.D
 In
the far north east of Scotland stands the much altered tower of
Ackergill, close to the sea shore one mile west of the infamous
Sinclair stronghold of Girnigoe castle. The earliest part of Ackergill
dates back to the 1400's when an oblong tower house was raised by the
Keith family. Anciently the lands of Ackergill were held by the Cheyne
family who also held the lands of Inverugie to the south in
Aberdeenshire.
 Around
1350 Reginald Cheyne, the Clan head, died ending the male line leaving
two daughters to inherit the Cheyne estates. One of his daughters Mary
married John, second son of Edward Keith the Marischal. In 1354 John
Keith took possession of Ackergill and Inverugie. His son likely built
the tower of Ackergill in an effort to keep up with Sir William Keith
the Marischal who raised a great L-plan keep on the cliffs of Dunnottar
near Stonehaven. In the 1500's a low barmkin courtyard wall was also
raised around Ackergill to provided further protection not only for the
tower but for the wooden barns, brewhouses, stables and stone dovecots
which sprung up alongside such castles. Around the same time an oblong
plan tower house with round corner turrets was also constructed on the
Keith estate of Inverugie. In 1510 a document names Gilbert Mowat as
captain of Ackergill on behalf of the Keiths. By 1538 the male line of
the Ackergill/Inverugie Keiths failed and Ackergill was then granted by
King James V of Scots (1513-1542) to William Keith Earl Marischal and
Lady Keith his wife.
 In
1547 the Sinclairs of nearby Girnigoe led by George Earl of Caithness
attacked and seized Ackergill by surprise, taking Alexander Keith said
captain and his servant John Skarlet hostage, detaining them at
Girnigoe. Later Queen Mary the Regent (Mary Queen of Scots mother)
granted remission to George for his actions. She also installed Lord
Oliphant as a temporary keeper of Ackergill in 1549 perhaps to separate
the feuding Keiths and Sinclairs. However the Earl of Caithness and the
Sinclairs again besieged Ackergill in 1556 when it was in the hands of
William Keith Earl Marischal. But once again he received remission for
his actions which angered the Keiths.
In
1593 the Earl Marischal complained to the Privy Council that his
brother Robert Keith had seized his castle of Ackergill by force of
arms with the intention of molesting the surrounding estates. Hence
Robert was declared a rebel. By 1598 Earl Marischal was back before the
Council again to complain that "his place of Ackergill" had been
attacked. This time by John Keith of Subster with a large army who
climbed the barmkin wall with scaling ladders at night and entered the
tower by surprise hurting his servants in the process. And that John
now "keeps the place" against his express wishes.
In
the early 1600's Ackergill passed to the Sinclairs Earls of Caithness
by legal means, though they appear to have neglected the upkeep of the
building and it became run down. In 1623 it was besieged by Sir Robert
Gordon in his feud with the Earl of Caithness. But the castle
surrendered without an actual assault or bombardment. It is claimed
that Cromwell garrisoned Ackergill in 1651 around the same time as his
siege of Dunnottar castle dragged on in his pursuit of the Scots crown
jewels (now on display at Edinburgh castle) used to crown King Charles
II of Scotland and England (1660-1685). By the early 1700's Ackergill
was held by the Dunbars of Hempriggs. It was likely they who built the
modern lean to block house against the earlier tower. In 1726 a
document describes Ackergill as being "a strong house, and yet in
(need) of repair, and betwixt (between) that and the sea is a good new
house lately built." In the 19th century the tower had new larger
windows cut into it with new raised battlements/bartizans and an
extended roof to the turnpike stairwell totally out of character with
the original 1400's tower. Today Ackergill is run as a hotel.
Also See:
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