Kilravock Castle

A composite building dating from mid-15th to mid-20th

century, sited on steeply sloping, SE facing site. Rubble

tower and dovecote, remainder harled with ashlar margins and

dressings.

Large square rubble built keep, circa 1460, with corbelled

and crenellated wallwalk, angle bartizans, cap house and

square south angle turret, forms NE arm of U-plan entrance

court. Tower linked to long, SE facing 17th century range by

square 17th century stair tower with ground floor entrance

in NW (now masked from outside by service passage). Moulded

doorpiece, decorated with crude stars and rosettes, gives

onto square stair well rising 3 storeys.

17th century mansion of 3 storeys (ground vaulted), 6

irregular bays with angle and near centre projecting stair

turrets; 4 swept dormers rise through wallhead. Later wings

of 2 builds and varying height project at NW to complete rear

court; rear NW elevation has later 18th century centre

projecting stair compartment, with centre entrance masked by

small square projecting crenellated porch.

Small, sympathetic, 3-storey over basement single bay service

wing in SE angle. Further 2-storey, irregular 5-bay rubble

service range at NE linked to main dwelling by harled wall

with ashlar cope and segmental headed, margined entrance to

form service court.

Later 18th century Venetian window in SW elevation (drawing

room). Multi-pane glazing. Pair bee boles in base of mansion

in SE elevation. 2 mural sundials at angles of main SE

elevation.

Ridge and end stacks; crowsteps; slate roofs.

Interior; 15th century tower retains original plan form, with

mural wheel stair giving access to 4 floors and wallhead

walk. Modern chimney piece with carved quotation replaces

original in 1st floor hall, with corbelled and beamed

ceiling. 17th century range re-modelled and coved drawing

room ceiling with Adamesque chimney piece. Later 18th century

stair case with carved balusters, in north entrance wing and

entrance hall, which also contains re-sited ornate 1662

chimney piece (from 1st floor hall in old tower).

Dovecote; sited at south corner of castle to which it is

linked by section of former barmkin wall. 2-stage 15th/16th

century corner tower, with stone seated privy in ground floor

chamber and pigeon loft above, with door and small square

flanking pitching-eye, formerly fitted with iron yett. 19th

century shallow pyramidal slate roof, raised at centre to

accommodate flight holes.

Garden Walls; rubble garden wall with dressed stone cope and

segmental headed arched entrance, possibly incorporating

sections of earlier castle barmkin, fronting 19th century

walled garden.