Tor Castle

Tor Castle is a ruined castle, about 3 miles (5 kilometres) north east of Fort William, Highland, Scotland, west of the River Lochy and east of the Caledonian Canal, near Torlundy.[1]

Engraving of Tor Castle, as found in Invernessiana: Contributions toward A History of the Town and Parish of Inverness, from 1160 to 1599 by Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, published in 1875

History

An Iron Age fort previously occupied the site. According to tradition, the fort once belonged to Banquo who features in MacBeth.[2] There has been a castle at the site since at least the eleventh century.[3] In 1291 a splendid match was arranged for Angus Mackintosh, chief of the Clan Mackintosh, when he married Eva, the only daughter of Dougal Dal, chief of the Clan Chattan, which brought Angus the lands of Glenloy and Loch Arkaig.[4] Angus and Eva lived on the lands of Clan Chattan at Tor Castle but they later withdrew to Rothiemurchus.[4] The castle was then seized by the Clan Cameron, who built a massive tower house and courtyard.[5] Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, 13th chief of Clan Cameron rebuilt the castle in 1530.[6] The Camerons used the castle as a refuge from attacks by the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch.[7]

Structure

The castle consists of a very ruinous tower house.[1]

Notes
  1. Coventry, Martin (1997) The Castles of Scotland. Goblinshead. ISBN 1-899874-10-0 p.316
  2. Coventry (2008) p.75.
  3. Coventry (2008) p.75.
  4. Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, pp. 230 - 231.
  5. Coventry (2008) p.75.
  6. "Tor Castle". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  7. Coventry (2008) p.75.

References
  • Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.


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