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Newton Castle

Newton Castle is a mid-16th century Z-plan tower house which latterly served as the seat of the Macpherson clan.

The first castle at Newton is thought to have been built in the early 14th century, when the lands of Newton of Blair were a possession of Scone Abbey. Around 1550 George Drummond of Flaskhill and Ledcrief bought the lands of Newton of Blair from Patrick Hepburn, Bishop of Moray and Commendator of Scone.

In June 1554 George and his younger son, William, were murdered by the lairds of Gormack, Ardblair, Drumlochy, Clayquhat and Knockmachar and eighty retainers while “playand at the rowbowlis” “in ye hie mercate gate, behybde ye Kirke of Blair”.

George was succeeded by his eldest son, also George, who is thought to have built the main part of the present castle. The castle consists of a three storey and attic rectangular tower aligned approximately south-west to north-east, with a round tower at the west corner and a square tower at the east corner forming a Z-plan. The basement of the round tower is vaulted and the walls of the castle are up to 2.4m thick in places.

Newton Castle

The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, Volume 2David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross, Edinburgh, 1887

The castle is marked on Pont’s late-16th century map as Newton of Blair.

Newton Castle

Strathardle; Glenshee and GlenerichtTimothy Pont, c. 1583 – 1596map image courtesy of NLS

The castle was sacked by both Montrose and Cromwell in the mid-17th century and in 1745 was garrisoned by the Duke of Cumberland’s cavalry on their march north.

Newton Castle
In the 18th century the castle belonged to the Grahams of Balgowan who in 1788 sold it to Colonel Allan Macpherson. The castle has remained in the Macpherson clan ever since and is the seat of the current clan chief.

Newton Castle
Newton Castle
Newton Castle
Legend has it that Newton Castle is connected to Ardblair Castle by a tunnel, however this seems unlikely given the distance of over a kilometre. However in 1911 a subterranean vault was discovered close to the round tower which may represent part of the earlier castle.

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Alternative names for Newton Castle

Castle of Newton; Neutoun; Newton House; Newton of Blair; Newton of Blairgowrie; Newtoun; Newtoun de Blaer; Newtoun of Blair; Newtoune; Newtoune de Blair; Old Castle of Newton

Clans associated with Newton Castle

Macpherson

Surnames associated with Newton Castle

Drummond

Graham

Macpherson

Where is Newton Castle?

Newton Castle is in the parish of Blairgowrie and the county of Perthshire.

Grid reference: NO 17169 45273

Lat / long: 56.592043, -3.350316

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Newton Castle

OS map 381
Blairgowrie, Kirriemuir & Glamis (Strathmore West)
OS Explorer map 381


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Directions to Newton Castle

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Weather at Newton Castle

4°C
max 6°C / min 4°C
5km/h NW
1031mb
84%
7%
03:55 20:24

Clear sky
Weather observed at Blairgowrie at 02:20

References (books)

Bamff Charters, A.D. 1232-1703
James Henry Ramsay
Edinburgh, 1915
New Statistical Account of Scotland
Various
Edinburgh, 1845
Statistical Account of Scotland
Various
Edinburgh, 1799
The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland Volume 2
David MacGibbon
Edinburgh, 1887
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015
The genealogy of the most noble and ancient house of Drummond
William Drummond
Edinburgh, 1831
The Red Book of Menteith (Volume I)
William Fraser
Edinburgh, 1880

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore
Wikipedia

Castles near Newton Castle

Blairgowrie motte (site of)

0.7km away

Knockmahar (site of)

1.0km away

Ardblair Castle

1.1km away

Drumlochy Castle

2.2km away

Kinloch House

2.4km away

Glasclune Castle

2.5km away

Craighall Castle

2.9km away

Gormack (site of)

3.0km away

Castle of Loch Blair (site of)

3.6km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Newton Castle

Ardblair stone circle

1.8km away

Milton of Rattray cursus

2.7km away

Craighall stone circle

3.0km away

Drumend standing stone

3.1km away

Craighall standing stone and rock art

3.3km away

Woodside stone circle

4.9km away

Cleaven Dyke cursus

4.9km away

Arthurstone standing stone

9.1km away

East Cult standing stones

10.3km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Newton Castle

Tower of Lethendy Class III cross slab

4.7km away

Alyth Class II cross slab

8.1km away

Kettins Class II cross slab

9.0km away

Moonshade (possible) (site of) Class I stone

9.6km away

Murthly 1 Class III stone

9.8km away

Murthly 2 Class II cross slab

9.9km away

Pittensorn Class III slab

10.6km away

Cargill Class I symbol stone

10.8km away

Meigle 11 Class III slab

11.5km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Newton Castle

Norrie's Law hoard

44.6km away

Haddington silver chain

79.3km away

Traprain Law silver chain

81.3km away

Dunnicaer fort

81.3km away

Nigg silver chain

96.4km away

Borland silver chain

99.6km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

100.4km away

Parkhill silver chain

101.1km away

Whitlaw silver chain

102.5km away
more Pictish sites....

Accommodation near Newton Castle

The Royal Hotel, Blairgowrie
hotelBlairgowrie
0.7km away
Angus Hotel
hotelBlairgowrie
0.8km away
Altamount Country House Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBlairgowrie
1.1km away
Blairgowrie Holiday Park
caravan park, holiday park, self-catering lodgesBlairgowrie
1.2km away
Meikleour Hotel
hotelMeikleour
6.6km away
Bridge of Cally Hotel
hotelBridge of Cally
7.0km away
Corriefodly Holiday Park
campsite, caravan park, holiday park, self-catering lodgesBridge of Cally
7.0km away
Alyth Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barAlyth
8.1km away
Old Stables Bed and Breakfast / Self-Catering
bed and breakfastAlyth
8.2km away
Lands of Loyal Hotel
hotelAlyth
8.6km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Newton Castle

Altamount Country House Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBlairgowrie
1.1km away
Alyth Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barAlyth
8.1km away
Lochside Lodge & Roundhouse Restaurant
hotel, restaurantBridgend of Lintrathen
14.5km away
Atholl Arms Hotel, Dunkeld
hotel, bar, restaurantDunkeld
14.7km away
Murrayshall House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barScone
19.2km away
Holiday Inn Express Perth
hotel, barPerth
20.6km away
Huntingtower Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barAlmondbank
21.8km away
Breizh
restaurant, caféPerth
22.2km away
Premier Inn Dundee West
hotel, restaurantDundee
22.4km away
Best Western Queens Hotel & Leisure Club
hotel, restaurant, barPerth
22.8km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 26th of June 2011 at 12:40 am. Updated on the 28th of August 2024 at 11:10 am.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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