Kilcoy Castle

#167 Kilcoy Castle
Ross & Cromarty, Scotland
1580 and 1618 (plus 1891)
This is NOT an official Lego site

Kilcoy Castle is a Z-plan tower house located in the Scottish Highlands north of Inverness, on the Black Isle. It dates from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Kilcoy is derived from the Gaelic "Cu coille" meaning "Nook of the (Hazel) Wood". The castle consists of a four-story block with a pair of round towers of different diameters at the opposite corners. The smaller tower is corbelled out to a square, two story gabled watch tower. There are round bartizans on the remaining corners of the main block, and stair turrets in the re-entrant angles. The original entrance was in a re-entrant angle (where I have placed it in my model), though it is now in the center of the main block. The basement is vaulted, containing four rooms, including the kitchen. The lintel of the fireplace in the Hall is dated 1679.

The Kilcoy lands, consisting of more than 400 acres, are mentioned as early as 1294 as being in a grant to the Earl of Ross, but from at least 1511 to 1618 the lands belonged to the Stewarts of Newton and Muren. Robert Stewart of Muren probably erected the original tower. In 1603 Sir James Stewart married Jean Fraser of Lovat, and received Kilcoy in a marriage settlement in 1605. However, in 1611 the widowed Jean Fraser married Alexander Mackenzie, son of the 11th Baron of Kintail and chief of the clan, and in 1618 he received Kilcoy in the marriage settlement. He completed the castle. I can find not information about the castle after 1679, except that it was abandoned at some point and became ruinous. The roof was removed to avoid taxes before 1846. The estate was held by the Mackenzies until 1883, with the 2nd Baronet, Sir Evan, died. In 1891 the Burton-Mackenzies inherited the ruin, and had it restored by famed Alexander Ross, with a four-story wing added to the north side [which I have not built]. Since 1964 the castle has been owned by the Robinsons, and most recently the McAndrews, who periodically open it to the public.

Photos of the Lego Model Under Construction in February 2018

Construction begins on February 2, with the castle laid on baseplates (see pattern below).	Construction continues on the same day, with the entrance moved to the re-entrant angle on the south side.	The north side (minus 1891 addition) is noteworthy for the water trough and waste shaft in the kitchen area.


By February 4 the turret stairs in both re-entrant angles can by appreciated...	...and the first story windows are also visible on all sides.	By the next day, the second story is also completed...	and I head for two much warmer weeks in sunny Florida!


Back on the job on February 22, the tower house is now complete up to the level of the roofline.	The stair turrets are taking shape...	...and the corner bartizans are also taking shape.	The height of the watch tower can begin to be appreciated.

Photos of the Lego Model Built February - March 2018

The front (south) view really accents the original entrance in the re-entrant angle	This in my favorite angle, and the one found most often on the internet.	This is a really good angle to view the NW tower.	The northwest view seems pretty bland, with four tower fireplaces feeding into a huge chimney.


The north side is pretty much my design (with help from the castle plans) since the 1891 addition had changed/obscured...	...the original wall of the main block. I'm sure the kitchen shafts are long gone.	This is a nice view of the east end of Kilcoy Castle.	The southeast view, with the two story caphouse is a fitting way to end the walkabout!


Ground Floor Plan	First Floor Plan	West Elevation of the Current Castle	South (Front) Elevation of the Current Castle	East Elevation of the Current Castle


On February 24 roofing the castle begins!	It will be interesting to see how the...	...roofs of the pair of cylindrical towers mesh together.	One has a caphouse to consider. See below!

Build Your Own

Lego Plan with layout of baseplates	Ground Floor Lego Plan	First Floor Lego Plan


South Elevation	?? Elevation	?? Elevation	?? Elevation