Pitlurg Castle
Pitlurg Castle was a 16th-century keep, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east of Keith, Banffshire, Scotland, north of the Burn of Davidston, at Mains of Pitlurg.[1]
History
The name 'Pitlurg', meaning 'the hillside place', suggests there was an earlier Pictish settlement on the site.[2]
A Gordon family, descended from Jock o’Scurdargue, owned the lands until 1724.[1] It was partly occupied until the 1760s.[2] General Gordon, 1815, a descendant, took the name for his estate of Leask and Birness, Formartine.[3]
Robert Gordon of Straloch was born and resided here, inheriting the estate from his brother John.[2]
Structure
Pitlurg Castle was a Z-plan tower house and courtyard. Only one round tower with two vaulted storeys remains.[1] It is now a doocot.[3]
The castle was built on rock. To the south was the Den of Pitlurg, while there was an open view to the west. There was a well in the castle courtyard, while it is thought that the castle was surrounded by a deep ditch, and there was a long range of buildings to the west. The structure to the east has been removed, but it is marked by a rebuilt doorway, and by the remains of a stone staircase leading to the second floor of the tower on the south east side.[2]