History
DIVE INTO THE PAST OF THE DORNOCH CASTLE HOTEL AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
Dornoch Castle
History
Over the centuries, Dornoch Castle has worn many crowns – once a bishop’s palace, later a clan stronghold,
then a courthouse, a jail, even a schoolhouse – and now a hotel,
each stone echoing a legacy of ruin and rebirth.
Origins
The Castle is almost certainly on the site of the original Bishop’s Palace of St. Gilbert, who founded the Cathedral in the early 13th Century. However, it is not known when the oldest surviving part of the present building was put up. In 1557, the Palace was given to the Earl of Sutherland by his brother in law, Bishop Robert Stewart. It is clear that the building was erected before that date and may well be of the late 15th Century.
At one time, the Castle had three towers forming a courtyard, enclosed on the north side by a high wall with a gatehouse in the northeast corner. The present Tower stood at the southwest corner, one of only two strongholds to withstand the siege of 1570. The other surviving portion of the Castle is the large chimney, which served as the kitchen chimney to the Bishop’s Palace. The south wall of the old building, believed to be over five hundred years old, is nine feet thick.
The earliest surviving documentary evidence of the Palace is the Charter of 1557, by which Bishop Robert appointed the Earl of Sutherland and his heirs to be hereditary Constables for Dornoch “situated in the Irish (Gaelic speaking) Country among the wild, unbridled, untamed and savage Scots”. The Bishop, alarmed by the spread of Lutheran doctrines, made the appointment to safeguard the Church’s property by putting it temporarily in the care of his relations.
He could not have imagined that the Church would never reclaim its property.
Through the Ages
Over the centuries, the Castle experienced various phases of destruction and repair, particularly during the 16th- and 17th-century clan conflicts. Despite the violence, the Castle remained largely intact and continued as a noble residence. By the 18th century, it fell into disrepair, with parts roofless and used informally by townsfolk.
In the early 1800s, the town of Dornoch underwent significant redevelopment, with the ruinous Castle becoming central to civic improvement plans. The residential part was demolished to make way for the public buildings and the north wall was cleared away. The Tower, with its spiral stone staircase, was re-roofed and turned into the Courthouse and Jail. Meanwhile, a new building was erected over the vaulted kitchens, besides the great Bishop’s Chimney, which became the schoolhouse.
Throughout time, numerous legends of ghostly apparitions and buried treasures grew around the Castle, enhancing its mystique and rich history.
Recent times
When the building passed into private hands in 1922 it was considerably modernised. Further extensive work was carried out after it became a hotel in 1947.
This work continues now with the new owners who took over in June of 2000 and enhanced its status as a luxurious yet heritage-rich destination.
Today, Dornoch Castle, set at the heart of the Scottish Highlands, stands as a symbol of the town’s vibrant and magnificent history.
For further information about our fascinating Castle,
we have a detailed history handout available to download.
And for those interested in exploring the fascinating past of Dornoch and its surroundings, we recommend a visit to the HistoryLinks Museum.
Dornoch Distillery
Visit our website for all the latest news and information about our Gins and Whisky