Farnell Castle

Farnell Castle

Farnell Castle, located in the village of Farnell, in Angus, Scotland, has a history that spans over 700 years, evolving from a medieval bishop’s residence to a noble tower house and eventually an alms house. This 16th Century tower house has been associated with the Carnegie family since 1623. The current structure is a three-storey oblong tower house built of rubble and slate (Tranter, 1966).

Architectural Features

• Ecclesiastical Remnants: The projecting garde-robes, with flues, are distinctly seen in the view of the north front, and in the east gable there are two rows of corbels at the level of the floor and ceiling of the top story, on which an overhanging wooden gallery with its roof must have rested (MacGibbon & Ross, 1887).

• Historic Marks: The north skew-putts have shields, on one of which is carved the monogram "I.M." (Jesu Maria) and "M" surmounted with a crown (MacGibbon & Ross, 1887).

• Sanitary Engineering: A projecting garderobe (medieval toilet) with exposed flues is still visible on the north façade ( (Tranter, 1966).

Early Origins and the Medieval Palace (1200s – 1500s)

The site’s earliest recorded history dates back to the late 13th century.

• Royal Connection: In 1296, King Edward I of England stayed at an earlier castle on this site for one night during his invasion of Scotland before moving on to Brechin Castle (Historic Environment Scotland, 1971).

• Ecclesiastical Residence: For centuries, it belonged to the See of Brechin, and was a residence of the Bishops (MacGibbon & Ross, 1887). Between 1488 and 1514, Bishop William Meldrum occupied the residence, formally referring to it as Palatium Nostrum ("Our Palace") in a charter dated 1512 (MacGibbon & Ross, 1887).

Secularisation and Noble Ownership (1560s – 1800s)

In the mid-16th century, the castle transitioned from church property to a private noble residence.

• Secularisation (1566): Around 1566, the property was sold or disposed of—likely by Donald Campbell—to Catherine, Countess of Crawford. She was the widow of David Lindsay, the 9th Earl of Crawford and, acquired the property converting the building into a more modern, secular house (Tranter, 1966).

• The Southesk Family 1623: The castle was later purchased by the Earl of Southesk (MacGibbon & Ross, 1887). By the 19th century, records indicate the entire parish was the property of Sir James Carnegie, Baronet of Southesk (Gordon, 1845).

• Alms House (19th Century): It has not been occupied as a baronial residence for about a century. Lady Carnegie, grandmother of the present Earl, had it repaired and converted into hospital for poor persons who had formerly been employed on the estate, who were there well provided for (Warden, 1871).

Today, Farnell Castle is a Category A listed building, protected for its significant architectural and historical value (Historic Environment Scotland, 1971) and is a residential property.

Works Cited

Gordon, J., 1845. The New Statistical Account of Scotland, Edinburgh: Blackwood and Sons.

Historic Environment Scotland, 1971. Farnell Castle LB11501, Edinburgh: Historic Environment Scotland.

MacGibbon, D. & Ross, T., 1887. The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Edinburgh: Douglas, D.

Tranter, N., 1966. The Fortified House in Scotland. 1 ed. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.

Warden, A. J., 1871. Angus or Forfarshire, The Land and People, Descriptive and Historical, Dundee: Charles Alexander and Co.

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