Crombie Castle

Circa 1542, towerhouse with additions, restoration begun late 1930s, currently incomplete. 3-storey, rectangular-plan with corbelled angle bartizans to S, crowstepped gables and rubble stacks. Harled, with chamfered granite ashlar margins. Later, lower gabled additions of circa 1570, 1820, 1860 and 1910.

TOWERHOUSE: E ELEVATION: 1570 addition forming L-plan. Round arched pend circa 1910, to entrance in 1570 wing (see below).

N ELEVATION: gable end of 1542 tower without additions, window to each floor, wide mouthed gunloop below 1st floor window.

W ELEVATION: 2 windows and gunloop at 1st floor, 3 piended dormerheads breaking eaves at 2nd floor.

S ELEVATION: 1542 tower with additions at ground and 1st floor, window to gablehead flanked by truncated corner bartizans.

ADDITIONS:

CIRCA 1570: 3-storey wing to E at right angles to earlier tower, with later pend to doorway in re-entrant angle. single windows to 2nd and 3rd floors. Corbel course at 2nd floor, probably carried a bartizan. Link wall of 1910 (see below).

CIRCA 1820: wing projecting from S gable, single storey and attic addition; window at each floor to each elevation.

CIRCA 1860: single storey, gabled wing at right angles to W, later raised to single storey and attic; door in re-entrant angle to S, wooden gabled dormer to attic. Lean-to porch addition to N with door to tower.

CIRCA 1910: 2-storey wing of 2 bays extending to E, parallel with circa 1570 wing. Window at ground to E gable. Round headed doorway to S with window at each floor to right, breaking eaves at 1st floor in crowstepped gabled dormerhead with finial.

INTERIOR: 2 vaulted chambers at ground floor of 1542 tower; kitchen to N with access to 1st floor, dungeon beneath service stair. Great hall to 1st floor with large fireplace to centre of N wall; concrete lintel of 1930-50 restoration as are modern fireplace to S wall, plaster armorial above, timber open beamed ceiling on corbels. Projecting masonry chamber to NW corner;

"Laird's Lug", with diamond opening below ceiling, entered from 2nd floor through trapdoor. 2nd floor; undivided attic space, windows to NW and S, fireplace to S partially rebuilt, blocked doors to bartizans. Circa 1570 wing: vaulted basement, straight stair to 1st floor, newel stair to 2nd floor formerly with access to (demolished) bartizan above entrance. No plaster work or fixtures; currently uninhabited.