Knock Castle, Aberdeenshire

Knock Castle was granted to the Gordons of Abergeldie by the 4th Earl of Huntly after the battle of Corrichie, fought between George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, and the forces of Mary, Queen of Scots commanded by James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray on 28 October 1562. In 1592, a feud between the neighbouring Clan Forbes intensified when Henry Gordon 2nd Laird of Knock was murdered during a cattle raid by the Forbes and Clan Chattan men, his brother Alexander Gordon succeeded Henry and may have rebuilt or remodelled Knock Castle during his time there. It is said that one day, Alexander Gordon sent his seven sons out to cut peat for the winter store but while the brothers were out working, they…

Knock Castle is a four-storey ruin, dating from approximately 1600. MacGibbon and Ross note resemblance to Birse Castle, also in Aberdeenshire, as well as similarities with Borders pele towers. The rectangular tower measures about 27 ft by 22 ft, with walls of about 4 ft thick. The external walls of the castle survive intact, although the tower is roofless. The inside of the tower is entirely ruined, but the remains of a vaulted basement, used as a kitchen, and a spiral turnpike staircase can still be seen. At the top of the stair is a gabled cap house. An unusual feature at Knock is the defensive shot holes for pistols, of which three are located under each of the numerous windows. The…