Caskieben

Caskieben
Part of Keith Hall
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Colorized photograph of Keith Hall (Caskieben) near Inverurie, Scotland. Postcard dated June 30th, 1909.
Coordinates 57°16′55″N 2°21′12″W / 57.28203425°N 2.35334179°W / 57.28203425; -2.35334179Coordinates: 57°16′55″N 2°21′12″W / 57.28203425°N 2.35334179°W / 57.28203425; -2.35334179
Grid reference grid reference NJ 7879 2135
Type fortalice
Site information
Owner Lord Keith
Controlled by Lord Keith
Condition renovated
Site history
Built 1224
Built by Garvioch
Materials Stone
Demolished 1662
Battles/wars Battle of Inverurie (1308)

Caskieben (/kæskiːˈbɛn/ kahs-KEE-ben; Scottish Gaelic: Gasach beinn "Wooded Hill")[1] Caskieben was a palisaded tower built by the Garviach family during the 12th-century Norman expansion into Scotland. It stood on a low, circular mound surrounded by a 2 meter deep, 15 meter wide moat.

This earlier wooden tower was superseded nearby by a 13th-century stone castle also named Caskieben at first, but later renamed Keith Hall.

Nothing now remains of a structure, but the mound and moat are still visible.[2]

History

About 1224 Norman de Leslie received the lands of Caskieben and was doubtless the builder of the Anglo-Norman castle which superseded the old tower (NJ72SE 40). The castle of Caskieben that was enlarged after 1662 by the addition of a Renaissance mansion in front, and renamed Keith Hall, was, however, a fine example of the Z-plan castle, a style which probably originated in the district.

Mither Tap has an astronomical alignment with Caskieben, the hill being due west. Dr. Arthur Johnston said[3] "the hill of Benochie, a conical elevation about eight miles distant, casts its shadow over Caskieben at the periods of the equinox."


References

  1. ↑ "Celtic place-names in Aberdeenshire : with a vocabulary of Gaelic words not in dictionaries ; the meaning and etymology of the Gaelic names of places in Aberdeenshire ; written for the Committee of the Carnegie Trust" "John Milne, 1912" Retrieved on 2015-03-19
  2. ↑ Andy Sweet "Caskieben (site of)", Caskieben, Retrieved on 2015-03-13
  3. ↑ Robert Chambers, Thomas Thomson "A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen, Volume 2","Arthur Johnston", published 1870
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