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Muness Castle

Muness Castle is located on Unst, which is one of the Shetland Islands of Scotland. The castle is three kilometres (two miles) east of the village of Uyeasound. Unst is Scotland's most northerly inhabited island, and Muness is the most northerly fortalice in the British Isles.[1] It was designated as a Scheduled monument in 1953 and is run as a museum by Historic Environment Scotland.[2]

History

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The castle was built in 1598 for Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie, half-brother to Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney.[3] Earl Robert was succeeded by his son Patrick in 1593. The building may have been constructed under the direction of Andrew Crawford, Earl Patrick's master of works, who also oversaw the construction of Scalloway Castle and the Earl's Palace at Kirkwall, Orkney.[2] Bruce gave the castle to his son Andrew in 1617. It was burnt by foreign privateers in August 1627, and may never have been fully repaired. It was abandoned before the end of the century and it was sold out of the family in 1718.[4] The castle is now roofless and missing its upper storey which was removed to build the surrounding boundary wall. Aerial photographs reveal the possible presence of a formal garden to the south-west of the castle.[4]

Description

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The castle forms a rectangular block 22.3 by 7.9 metres (73ย ft 2ย in ร—ย 25ย ft 11ย in) with circular towers at the north and south angles. The ground floor and first storey survive virtually intact and the corbelling supports for small turrets on the east and west corners on the second storey remain. The roof was probably gabled and the towers likely had conical roofs. The entrance is located on the south-western side and is covered by gun loops in the main block and in the south-eastern tower.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Tranter 1970, p.ย 167.
  2. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Muness Castleย (SM90224)". Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  3. ^ Marilyn Brown, Scotland's Lost Gardens (Edinburgh: RCAHMS, 2015), p. 127.
  4. ^ a b c Historic Environment Scotland. "Unst, Muness Castleย (Site no.ย HP60SW 2)". Retrieved 4 July 2025.

Bibliography

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  • Tranter, Nigel (1970). The Fortified House in Scotland. Vol.ย 5: North and West Scotland and Miscellaneous. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd/W. & R. Chambers. ISBNย 978-0-550-21210-8.
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Laurence Bruce

known as the builder of Muness Castle, which was completed around 1598. Muness Castle, now a ruin, is the most northerly castle in Great Britain. It was

Scalloway Castle

Environment Scotland. "Scalloway Castleย (SM90273)". Retrieved 21 February 2019. Hall & Lindsay 1983, p.ย 554. "Muness Castle, listed building information"

Unst

include Uyeasound, home to Greenwell's Booth (a Hanseatic warehouse) and Muness Castle (built in 1598 and sacked by pirates in 1627); and Haroldswick, location

Euphemia Elphinstone

Bruce was Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie (1547โ€“1617), the builder of Muness Castle. She was the second daughter of Alexander Elphinstone, 1st Lord Elphinstone

Janet Stewart, Lady Ruthven

Bruce of Cultmalindie, who was appointed Faud of Shetland and built Muness Castle on Unst Four children with Lord Methven, born before their marriage;

Clan Bruce

Bruce of Crionaich Castles that have belonged to the Clan Bruce include: Fyvie Castle Airth Castle Muness Castle Thomaston Castle Culross Palace Clackmannan

List of castles in Shetland

Castle Holm Muness Castle Scalloway Castle Vaila Tower There are few castles in Shetland, the northernmost of the Northern Isles which lie off the coast

North Isles

heading directly north. Other British records include - Most northerly castle Muness Castle Most northerly post office โ€“ formerly Haroldswick now Baltasound