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Thurso Castle

Thurso Castle was a 17th century probable castle belonging to the Sinclairs, some remains of which were incorporated into a 19th century replacement.

Some sources conflate this castle with the Castle of Ormlie which is thought to have been the original castle of Thurso, making any pre-17th century history of this castle difficult to establish.

Most sources agree that this castle, also known as Thurso East, was built around 1660 for George Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness. He contracted the master mason Donald Ross at a cost of 600 merks. Whether or not it had defensive features is unclear.

Thurso Castle

image courtesy of Am Baile

In 1676 Sinclair died at the castle without issue and heavily in debt. Before his death he had transferred his estates and title to his principal creditor, John Campbell of Glenorchy, who also married Sinclair’s widow, Mary Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll. The following year Campbell was created Earl of Caithness by king’s patent which didn’t go down well with the wider Sinclair family.

A group of Sinclairs, led by George Sinclair of Keiss, son of the late Francis Sinclair of Northfield, and grandson of the 6th Earl, attacked and partially demolished Thurso-East. Campbell took legal action against the attackers however in 1681 George Sinclair’s right to the earldom was recognised.

Thurso Castle

The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, Volume 4David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross, Edinburgh, 1892

The castle was remodelled in the 18th century by Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet, author of the Statistical Account of Scotland, and again in 1806 and 1834 when it was enlarged by William Burn. To the south-west of the four storey main block was a massive five storey square tower built in the style of an old keep, with a small three storey square tower projecting up from the re-entrant angle.

Thurso Castle

Thurso Castle

Around 1872 much of the old castle is said to have been demolished and a new mansion was built in a French chateau style for Sir Tollemache Sinclair to a design by David Smith.

Thurso Castle

image courtesy of Am Baile

During the Second World War an anti-ship mine came ashore and exploded on the beach below the castle, causing damage to some windows. In 1951 there was a fire and the castle was abandoned and the roof removed. The following year some unstable sections of the castle were demolished.

Thurso Castle

Thurso Castle

Thurso Castle is still owned by the Sinclair family and is the seat of Viscount Thurso of Ulbster.

Thurso Castle

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Alternative names for Thurso Castle

Castle of Thurso; Castle of Thurso East; Castrum de Thorsa; Furso; Thurso East Castle; Thurso-East

Clans associated with Thurso Castle

Sinclair

Surnames associated with Thurso Castle

Campbell

Sinclair

Where is Thurso Castle?

Thurso Castle is in the parish of Thurso and the county of Caithness.

Grid reference: ND 1244 6890

Lat / long: 58.5992060937634, -3.50832432117238

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

OS Map for Thurso Castle

OS map 451
Thurso & John O’Groats (Dunnet Head)
OS Explorer map 451


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Directions to Thurso Castle

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Weather at Thurso Castle

18°C
max 18°C / min 18°C
13km/h E
1017mb
65%
8%
03:31 21:08

Clear sky
Weather observed at Thurso at 14:53

References (books)

Ancient History of Orkney, Caithness, & the North
Thormodus Torfæus
Wick, 1866
Caithness family history
John Henderson
Edinburgh, 1884
History of the House and Clan of Mackay
Robert Mackay
Edinburgh, 1829
Ordnance Survey Name Book, Caithness, Volume 11
Various
, 1873
Origines Parochiales Scotiae (Volume 2 part 2)
Various
Edinburgh, 1855
Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History of Caithness
James Tait Calder
Glasgow, 1861
The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland Volume 4
David MacGibbon
Edinburgh, 1892
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015
The Saint-Clairs of the Isles
Roland William Saint-Clair
Auckland, 1898

References (websites)

Canmore
Wikipedia

Castles near Thurso Castle

Castle of Ormlie

1.5km away

Scrabster Castle

1.8km away

Castle of Haimer (site of)

2.5km away

Brims Castle

8.4km away

Braal Castle

8.9km away

Brough Castle

11.6km away

Dounreay Castle

14.2km away

Borlum

15.9km away

Castle of Mey

17.3km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Thurso Castle

Bell Mount (possible) broch

3.4km away

Murkle broch

3.8km away

Scrabster Mains broch

3.8km away

Whitefield (site of) broch

4.2km away

Thing's Va cairn

4.3km away

Thing's Va broch

4.4km away

Tulloch of Shalmstry broch

4.5km away

Geise broch

4.6km away

Cairn of Sibmister broch

4.9km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Thurso Castle

Craig of Hattel Class I symbol stone

6.3km away

Skinnet Stone Class II cross slab

6.9km away

Reay Class III cross slab

10.0km away

Sandside Class I symbol stone

17.7km away

Birkle Hill Class I symbol stone

23.8km away

Ackergill 1 Class I symbol stone

26.3km away

Ackergill 2 Class I symbol stone

26.3km away

Watenan Stone Class I symbol stone

33.7km away

Flotta Class III cross slab

34.2km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Thurso Castle

Burghead fort

99.6km away

Gaulcross hoard

112.4km away

Torvean silver chain

133.5km away

Parkhill silver chain

172.0km away

Nigg silver chain

184.5km away

St. Ninian's Isle hoard

197.6km away

Dunnicaer fort

198.3km away

Norrie's Law hoard

262.7km away

Traprain Law silver chain

297.0km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Thurso Castle

Holborn Hotel
hotel, barThurso
0.9km away
Sandra's Backpackers Hostel
hostelThurso
1.0km away
Royal Hotel Thurso
hotel, restaurant, barThurso
1.0km away
The Weigh Inn Hotel
hotelThurso
1.8km away
Ferry Inn
hotelScrabster
2.8km away
St Clair Arms Hotel
hotelThurso
6.7km away
The Castletown Hotel
hotelCastletown
6.7km away
Greenland House
hotelThurso
7.1km away
Dunnet Head Cottage
self-catering cottage, bed and breakfastBrough
11.0km away
The Brown Trout Hotel
hotelWick
18.5km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Thurso Castle

Holborn Hotel
hotel, barThurso
0.9km away
Red Pepper Restaurant
restaurantThurso
0.9km away
Royal Hotel Thurso
hotel, restaurant, barThurso
1.0km away
The Storehouse
caféJohn O'Groats
25.9km away
Ackergill Tower
hotel, restaurant, barWick
26.8km away
Royal Golf Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDornoch
85.4km away
The Eagle
hotel, restaurant, barDornoch
85.5km away
Dornoch Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDornoch
85.5km away
Railway Hotel
hotel, barTain
93.1km away
Royal Hotel Tain
hotel, bar, restaurantTain
93.1km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 21st of October 2011 at 12:19 am. Updated on the 10th of December 2024 at 2:16 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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