Keiss Castle

History

Keiss Castle may have been built on the site of an earlier fort, constructed by George Sinclair, the 5th Earl of Caithness, sometime between the late 1500s and early 1600s. It appears the castle already stood by 1623, when King James VI ordered Sir Robert Gordon to lead an armed force into Caithness. The 7th Earl died there in 1698, though reports describe the castle as ruinous by 1700. By 1726, it was said to be in repair, with a newly built convenient house beside it.

Early in the 1700s, Sir William Sinclair, the 2nd Baronet of Dunbeath, bought the estate, and in 1752 Keiss became his family seat. The current house was built around 1755, but financial troubles forced its sale in 1765 to the Sinclairs of nearby Ulbster. This Category B listed baronial mansion was remodeled in 1860 under K. Macleay’s direction by architect David Bryce, who expanded it in the Scottish baronial style. In 1866, the property was sold to the Duke of Portland.

The listing also covers the walled garden northeast of the house, as well as the gate lodge and gate piers with cast-iron carriage gates added during the 1860 renovations.