What is the oldest castle in Scotland?
The oldest castle in Scotland that can be dated with certainty is Castle Sween. Details of the building’s architecture shows that it was built in the 1100’s and the castle was occupied for 500 years. Castle Sween sits on eastern shore of Loch Sween, in Knapdale, south of the forestry village of Achnamara on the west coast of Argyll, Scotland.
History
The fort and its adjoining sea loch was named after Suibhne (Sven) ‘the Red’, a chieftain of Irish descent and ancestor of the MacSweens. He likely constructed Castle Sween in the 1100s, a time while Argyll lay outside the boundaries of the Kingdom of Scotland.
Sween Castle is set on a low, rocky ridge overlooking Loch Sween. It’s surrounded by a curtain wall, 2m thick and 8m high. The castle complex was altered and built upon during the next 500 years.
The specific architecture of the castle dates it back to the 1100’s. This is evident by the broad buttresses on the outside walls. An absence of windows and other openings, aside from the entrances are also relevant to this period,
A stronghold of Kings and Lords
During the 1200s, control of Argyll and the Isles was a matter of dispute between the King of Norway and the King of Scots. The Scottish made efforts to secure control and replaced the MacSweens in 1262 by the Stewart Earls of Menteith.. In 1266 King Magnus of Norway.transferred complete control and ownership the the lordship of Argyle.
Around 1300 Johan MacSween tried to retake ownership of Castle Sween but his efforts failed. During this time, a new three-story seaward tower was built.
In the late 1300s, the castle was passed on to the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, and several families served as custodians and keepers of the castle.. In 1481 King James III of Scotland who feared treachery by the MacDonalds entrusted the castle to the Campbell earls of Argyll. In 1647 the castle was destroyed by Sir Alexander MacDonald.
In 1933, the castle was put in the care of the Historic Building and Monuments Directorate (HBMD) Currently Castle Sween is under the protection of Historic Scotland
Now that you know the oldest castle in Scotland. Do you know the oldest castle in Ireland?
Ready to start planning that trip to Scotland? Start here!
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