- Braal Castle
Infobox Military Structure
name=Braal Castle
location=Halkirk , Highland,Scotland
gbmapping|ND137602
coordinates=
caption=
caption2=
type=Tower house
built=Mid14th century
builder=Unknown
materials=Stone
height=
used=14th century – ?
demolished=
condition=Ruined
ownership=Private
open_to_public=No
controlledby=Earl of Caithness (14th-18th century)Braal Castle is located by the
River Thurso north of the village ofHalkirk , inCaithness , northernScotland . The ruined castle, which dates back to the mid-14th century, was originally known as the Castle of Brathwell.History
The site may have been occupied by Harold II of Orkney,
Mormaer of Caithness (d. 1206), although the present building is of the fourteenth century.cite web |author=David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross |title=The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, Volume 3 |url=http://ia311509.us.archive.org/2/items/castellateddomes03macguoft/castellateddomes03macguoft_djvu.txt |date=1887 |accessdate=2008-03-18] The "Castle of Brathwell" was granted by KingRobert II of Scotland to his son, David Stewart, Earl of Caithness. His descendant, Walter Stewart,forfeit ed his estates in 1437 when he was executed for his role in the murder of King James I.In 1450, the castle was bestowed by James II upon Sir George Crichton,
Lord High Admiral of Scotland , who was briefly createdEarl of Caithness in 1452. In 1455, the earldom and castle were granted by James II to William Sinclair,Baron of Roslin andLord Chancellor of Scotland . The castle passed to the Sinclairs of Ulbster, a branch of the Sinclair Earls of Caithness, in the 18th century. [cite web |url=http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst5101.html |title=Braal Castle |work=Gazetteer for Scotland |accessdate=2008-03-19] Building of an adjacent mansion was begun, although construction was abandoned. In 1856 a hotel was built over these foundations. The building was requisitioned by the Armed Forces during theSecond World War , and was converted into flats in the 1970s. [cite web |url=http://www.asandj.co.uk/property/schedules/23.pdf |title=For Sale: Braal Castle, Halkirk, Caithness |accessdate=2008-03-19]The castle
The castle is located on a defensive site, above the River Thurso. It comprises a
tower house , around 12 by 11 metres (39 by 36 feet), with walls 2.5 to 3m (8-10 ft) thick. The entrance is at first-floor level, leading into a large hall. A stair in the wall led up to an upper floor and a parapet walk, although the upper parts of the castle have not survived.References
External links
* [http://www.caithness.org/caithness/castles/braal/index.htm Braal Castle, Caithness] , Caithness.org
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