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Mingary in Ardnamurchan: a Review of Who Could Have Built the Castle

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Mingary in Ardnamurchan: a Review of Who Could Have Built the Castle Proc Soc AntiqMINGARY Scot 144 (2014),IN ARDNAMURCHAN: 265–276 A REVIEW OF WHO COULD HAVE BUILT THE CASTLE | 265 Mingary in Ardnamurchan: a review of who could have built the castle James Scott Petre* ABSTRACT This short paper was prompted by the current interest in Mingary Castle, brought about by the major works recently undertaken there. It notes that its building has been attributed to various kin-groups by different scholars, the most recent and fullest analysis making a firm case for the MacDougalls. The paper reviews what evidence there is and concludes that there can be no absolute certainty on the matter. The large-scale restoration carried out on Mingary the simple context in which we should seek the Castle in Ardnamurchan, has propelled this remote circumstances of the castle’s foundation. The west Highland castle into a prominent news item castles of the western seaboard did not suddenly (Haylett 2013: 4–5; Oban Times 6 February 2014: mushroom up as a consequence of dramatic 9). Under the auspices of the Mingary Castle developments in Scottish national history, such Preservation Trust, there is now an excellent as the shift from Norwegian to Scottish royal website and blog giving details of the work overlordship in the 13th century (MacGibbon & undertaken, with full illustrations. The website Ross 1889: 13; Douglas Simpson 1965: 9; Stell contains an ‘analytical and historical assessment’ 2006: 15). These castles were commissioned written by Tom Addyman, with regard to the by the emerging aristocracies of the area as castle’s archaeology, and by Professor Richard devices to reflect and facilitate their further Oram, in respect of its history (Addyman & Oram advancement. It is this that must be borne in 2012). The investigations have revealed a great mind when contemplating the identity of castle- deal and consequently the architectural history of builders. the castle is being rewritten in much greater detail In general, the origins of west Highland and than previous surveys could have hoped to attain. island castles are poorly recorded and certainly, It is unlikely, however, that this work will add to Mingary is no exception. Indeed, it may even be what little information we have as to who may suggested that in this respect, it is more obscure have built the castle in the first place. than many others. Charter evidence can be used The purpose of this short paper is to discuss to attest a much earlier existence for a number previous thoughts on who the builders may have of other castles of the area, but the first such been and to attempt a review of what evidence document for Mingary is not until 1499 (Acts there is. Clearly, whoever built the castle did of the Lords of the Isles 1986: no A57: 230). so because they desired a lordly residence that Narrative sources are of no assistance whatever. symbolised their status, that in some measure Mingary does not feature in John of Fordun’s dominated the western approaches to the Sound list, written c 1380, which focuses largely, of Mull and that served as a base from which to though not exclusively, on Hebridean castles commute to the southern Hebrides and to other (John of Fordun 1871: 43–4; John of Fordun parts of the west Highland mainland. This is 1872: 39–40). Similarly, the late 17th-century * ‘Aros’, Western Road, Strongarbh, Tobermory, Isle of Mull Petre, J S.indd 265 24/11/2015 16:37 266 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 2014 Illus 1 The castle looking west. Coll and Tiree are dim profiles on the horizon (photo: Jonathan Haylett) Gaelic histories – Hugh of Sleat’s History of and elsewhere, by way of a background to his the MacDonalds and The Book of Clanranald – revision of a timeframe for the beginning of provide no information on who first built Mingary Castle Tioram in Moidart. Inasmuch as Tioram is (Hugh MacDonald of Sleat 1914; The Book of commonly taken as Mingary’s closest ‘twin’, its Clanranald 1894). In these circumstances, as case is especially interesting. In volume 3 of 1889 Geoffrey Stell aptly wrote, ‘for the most part the of their extensive work, Ross and MacGibbon physical evidence is the principal, if not the only, proposed that it was founded in the 13th century source and technique of … dating’ (Stell 2006: (MacGibbon & Ross 1889: 12–15, 56–8). 16). Agreeing a terminus post quem for building Douglas Simpson endorsed this date and this work on architecture alone is, of course, fraught seems to have coloured a view that has persisted with imprecision and as Stell has also wisely almost to the present (Douglas Simpson 1954: commented, ‘methods of dating by typology, 70–90; Dunbar 1981: 46; McNeill 2004). Stell’s style or comparison of details are beset with recent reassessment of its architecture, set within difficulties which have been rarely admitted the framework of the supporting documentary …’ (Stell 2006: 17). It is indeed instructive to evidence, makes it highly likely that it is, in note a number of prominent cases where once- fact, mid-14th century (Hugh MacDonald of held assumptions of foundation dates for west Sleat 1914: 26; Acts of the Lords of the Isles Highland and island castles, made on the basis of 1986: xxviii–xxix, no 7: 10–11 and no A7: 209; architectural attributes, have been dramatically Stell 2006: 5; Stell 2014: 273–4, 280–2, 284). revised by later review. This is an exercise that Another prominent example of the imprecision Stell has carried out, in summary, in his recent of foundation dating, which Stell has noted, Stell Report (Stell 2006: 15–16). It catalogues is the case of Duntrune on Loch Crinan. This changing views on foundation dates for Kisimul is a castle which resembles Mingary, Tioram (Barra), Breachacha (Coll), Dunvegan (Skye) et al in having an irregular, polygonal curtain, Petre, J S.indd 266 24/11/2015 16:37 MINGARY IN ARDNAMURCHAN: A REVIEW OF WHO COULD HAVE BUILT THE CASTLE | 267 its shape being dictated by its rocky eminence, Prior to that, it is possible that it may have been with a multi-floored, residential, ‘tower’ as the one of Ewen MacDougall’s so-called ‘four great internal centrepiece. Following MacGibbon castles’ in his negotiations with Alexander II of and Ross, Duntrune was consistently assigned 1248–9, as reported in Haakon Haakonsson’s as a 13th-century creation until the RCAHMS Saga (Early Sources 1922 and 1990: 556). It is volume of 1992, which showed it to be of not named as one so we cannot be certain; opinion 15th-century origin. Even after that, however, on the matter is divided (Sellar 2000: 204; Fisher the old assumption persisted courtesy of Chris 2005: 90; Grove 2008: 24; Oram 2012: 186). Tabraham, who carelessly located Duntrune on The 1975 volume of the RCAHMS attributed Loch Creran, and to ‘a golden age of castles: the Dunstaffnage’s foundation to the middle of the thirteenth century’ (MacGibbon & Ross 1889: 13th century, Dunbar subsequently elaborating 85; Dunbar 1981: 46; RCAHMS Argyll 7 1992: that it was built by either Duncan MacDougall, 20, no 128: 276–82; Tabraham 2005: 29). or his son, Ewen, who succeeded his father in the It is clear from these examples that, in late 1230s (RCAHMS Argyll 2 1975: 27 and no analysing west Highland castle architecture, it is 287: 198–211; Dunbar 1981: 46). In 1996, Lewis essential to refrain from being too certain as to endorsed this mid-13th-century date (Lewis 1996: quite when they were first constructed. Only where 599–600) while most recently, the current Historic there is some written evidence, are we on wholly Scotland guidebook confidently remarked that solid ground, although even then, it is essential to ‘the architecture of Dunstaffnage Castle strongly remain critical in interpreting the source material. suggests that it was begun by … Duncan around Dunstaffnage Castle, in Lorn, is interesting to 1220’ (Grove 2008: 22). Although such an early consider in this context. The first clear reference date may well be correct, as Stell has asked: is to it relates to 1309, when it was besieged and it even certain that the castle existed in 1248–9? taken by Robert Bruce (John Barbour 1997: 367). (Stell 2006: 18). Illus 2 The castle on its rock, showing the sea gate and battlements with their two bartizans at the seaward angles of the curtain wall (photo: Jonathan Haylett) Petre, J S.indd 267 24/11/2015 16:37 Petre, JS.indd268 268 | SOMERLED SOCIETY OFANTIQUARIESSCOTLAND,2014 killed 1164 Dugald Reginald/Ranald [MacDougalls] Duncan Roderick/Ruairidh, Lord of Kintyre Donald/Dòmhnall, Lord of Islay [MacRuairis] [MacDonalds] Ewen/Eeogan Alan Angus/Aonghas ‘Mòr’ Lord of Garmoran Lord of Islay d. 1292–5 Alexander Christiana Roderick/Ruairidh Alexander/Alasdair ‘Òg’ Angus/Aonghas ‘Òg’ John/Eoin ‘Sprangach’ Lord of Argyll and Lorn of Garmoran Lord of Garmoran Lord of Islay Lord of Lochaber etc. Sheriff of Lorn killed 1318? killed 1299 d. 1330 d. 1310 Roderick/Ruairidh Reginald/Ranald ?Alexander ?Roderick/Ruairidh John/Eoin Clan Maclain/Clann Eoinn Lord of Kintyre + killed 1318 forfeited 1325 Lord of the Isles Lords of Ardnamurchan Garmoran d. 1387 killed 1346 24/11/2015 16:37 MINGARY IN ARDNAMURCHAN: A REVIEW OF WHO COULD HAVE BUILT THE CASTLE | 269 Richard Oram’s considered view is that RCAHMS spin-offs, penned by Graham Ritchie Mingary Castle was built by the MacDougalls and Mary Harman, also reserved judgement to control the northern end of their lordship of (Ritchie & Harman 1990: 84 and 1996: 96). In Lorn (Oram 2004: 124; Addyman & Oram 2012: the Buildings of Scotland: Highlands and Islands, 8).
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