| Castle of Rattray | |
|---|---|
| Rattray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | |
 The castle shown on a 1931 Ordnance Survey map as "Site of Cas" to the south-east of Loch Strathbeg. | |
| Coordinates | NK088578 |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Comyn family (early 13th to early 14th centuries) |
| Condition | Destroyed, no remains. |
| Site history | |
| Built | 12th century |
| In use | 12th, 13th and early 14th centuries. |
| Materials | originally timber, then stone. |
| Demolished | timber structure likely 1308, stone unknown. |
.jpg)
The Castle of Rattray was a medieval Scottish castle, with multiple variations on its structure over approximately six centuries. Originally built as a "late 12th- or early 13th century defensive motte"[1] it provided protection for Starny Keppie Harbour and Rattray village. Sometime between 1214 and 1233 it was upgraded by William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan before being destroyed in the 1308 Harrying of Buchan. After Comyn's timber castle was burned down, it was replaced by a stronger stone castle which was engulfed during a 1720 sand storm along with nearby Rattray village. After the storm, the castle was not dug out and remains covered to this day. The castle was described by W. Douglas Simpson as one of the nine castles of the Knuckle, referring to the rocky headland of north-east Aberdeenshire.[2]
- ^ Murray (1993), p.1
- ^ Simpson, W.D. (1949). "Cairnbulg Castle, Aberdeenshire" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 83: 32–44. doi:10.9750/PSAS.083.32.44.[permanent dead link]