Situated in the parish of Cawdor in Nairnshire, Scotland, Cawdor Castle boasts a history linked to the Macbeth legend. The castle was built around a mid-15th century keep, with substantial additions in later centuries. It is a Category A listed building, and its grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.
According to tradition, a donkey, laden with gold, lay down to rest under a small holly tree, which was then selected as the site of the castle. Modern scientific testing has shown that the tree died in approximately 1372, supporting earlier dates for the castle's first construction, which some attribute to around 1380.
The iron yett (gate) at Cawdor Castle was brought from nearby Lochindorb Castle, which was dismantled by William around 1455 on the orders of King James II. The castle's history is marked by several expansions, including work by Sir John Campbell of Muckairn in 1510 and later improvements by Sir Hugh Campbell of Cawdor, who employed the masons James and Robert Nicolson of Nairn.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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