Foulis Castle
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-->Foulis Castle has been the seat of the Clan Munro for over eight hundred years. During the 11th century the clan chief was given the castle and Foulis lands as a reward from the Earl of Ross for defeating Viking invaders. The remains of an 11th century Motte (man-made mound topped by a wooden palisade), believed to be the very first fortification at Foulis still remain in the castle grounds today.
The Munros are known to have built a large defensive castle at Foulis, which is mentioned briefly in records that date back to the 14th century. It is described in a 14th century Gaelic poem as "castle gaunt-peaked, the eagle's nest" (or in "Gailic caisteal biorach, nead na h-iolair"). The original Tower of Foulis was believed to have been built in 1154.
In times of clan warfare a signal beacon was lit on the highest tower of Foulis castle to gather the clan under arms. Hence the Munro slogan or gathering cry of "Casteal Foulais na theine," meaning Castle Foulis ablaze. The clan were then to gather around the castle.
The Castle survived up to the 18th century until it was attacked by Jacobites in 1746. The Munro Clan had been away on duty for the Government. Chief Sir Robert was commanding a British regiment at the Battle of Falkirk (1746) with his brother Harry Munro. This was when the castle was attacked. Chief Sir Harry Munro returned from the battle of Falkirk to find the castle had been set on fire. Much of the castle was destroyed, however the Munro's took revenge just a few months later with a victory over the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden. The Clan Chief set about rebuilding the castle incorporating what he could of the original building. However as the Battle of Culloden had brought a complete end to the Highland clan system there was no need for such a defensive fort anymore. As with many castles at this time it was re-built as a large mansion house as we see it today.
Unfortunately no records survive of what the fortifications at Castle Foulis looked like before 1746. However much has been learned about the castle and what the fortifications might have looked before 1746 by Captain and Mrs. Munro in their various stages of restoration. They believe that it was probably surrounded by a series of smaller dwellings, of possibly a fortified nature. They found in 1957-59, much evidence to suggest that in the courtyard area horses and cattle were kept, and that it was a self-contained community able to withstand a siege, when attacked.
Certainly the foundations of the Castle are of mammoth proportions, as has been found by the late Chief during the three stages of restoration that he and his wife have carried out -- in 1957-59, 1977-79, and most recently, in 1985-86. The Tower was obviously a "fortification", as its walls at the ground level are a massive five feet six inches thick. In May 1985, while repairs were being carried out in part to the Courtyard building, an interesting discovery was made. Four "cannon loops of an inverted key hole type," dating from the early part of the 16th century, were discovered behind four wedge-shaped, blocked-up apertures facing north, south, east and west in a five foot six inch thick wall. Above them is a barrel vaulted stone ceiling.
This building, at one time separate from the Castle, had certainly been constructed as a small defensive fort with an all-round "field of fire" to guard against possible attack.
At some later date, perhaps after 1746 and when the Chief felt that the chances of attack had lessened, the use of this building had changed. Three of the apertures had been completely blocked while the fourth had been partially blocked, leaving a narrow slit six inches wide and three feet long, into which a three-quarter inch iron bar was strongly built, giving light, some air and access through which food could be passed to the unfortunate prisoner. It was likely the castle's gaol.
According to Munro sources some of the stone wall of the original castle was found under the plaster of the current main mansion house building at Foulis.
See also
- Castles in Scotland A list of Scottish castles.
- Clan Munro
External links
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