Bishops' Palace, Castle Street, Dornoch

Circa 1500, substantially rebuilt after 1570 fire at which

date upper part of tower with angle bartizans built,

extensive alterations and additions 1813-14 and 1880. Rubble-

built, techniques varying at different periods, some ashlar

dressings. 5-storey tower (formerly SW tower of castle

complex) with stair turret at SE door at base of turret with roll-moulded architrave; some windows enlarged in 19th

century; corbelled angle bartizans unusually deepl

projecting at SW possibly with mutilated carved stone at

base of corbelling and reset in 19th century recasting;

gabletted crowsteps. coped apex stacks. Prior to 1813 tower

linked to 1, 2 and 3-storey ranges of which that part of the

S facing raised 2-storey range with the large 16th century

stack (to serve vaulted kitchens) survives. 1813-14 castle

adapted to use as court, possible lower part of block

attached to S gable of tower added and Gothic door added

opening onto terrace, parts of courtyard to N demolished.

Circa 1880 NS facing range and SW block raised and gabletted

dormers inserted; conical roofed stair turret on N face

possible added at this date; 3-storey E tower probably 1880s.

Roofs slated.

Interior: little of note remains; vaulted ground floor, some

16th/17th moulded doorpieces, vestiges of nook shafts,

possibly supporting earlier fireplace canopy; later 18th

century chimneypiece.