Latitude: 57.8798 / 57°52'47"N
Longitude: -4.0299 / 4°1'47"W
OS Eastings: 279717
OS Northings: 889619
OS Grid: NH797896
Mapcode National: GBR J7FW.SX2
Mapcode Global: WH4DN.268M
Plus Code: 9C9QVXHC+W2
Entry Name: Bishops' Palace, Castle Street, Dornoch
Listing Name: Castle Street Dornoch Castle (Castle Hotel) and Garden Wall
Listing Date: 18 March 1971
Category: B
Source: Historic Scotland
Source ID: 360655
Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB24636
Building Class: Cultural
Also known as: Dornoch, Castle Street, Bishops' Palace
ID on this website: 200360655
Location: Dornoch
County: Highland
Town: Dornoch
Electoral Ward: East Sutherland and Edderton
Traditional County: Sutherland
Tagged with: Castle
Circa 1500, substantially rebuilt after 1570 fire at which
date upper part of tower with angle bartizans built,
extensive alterations and additions 1813-14 and 1880. Rubble-
built, techniques varying at different periods, some ashlar
dressings. 5-storey tower (formerly SW tower of castle
complex) with stair turret at SE door at base of turret with roll-moulded architrave; some windows enlarged in 19th
century; corbelled angle bartizans unusually deepl
projecting at SW possibly with mutilated carved stone at
base of corbelling and reset in 19th century recasting;
gabletted crowsteps. coped apex stacks. Prior to 1813 tower
linked to 1, 2 and 3-storey ranges of which that part of the
S facing raised 2-storey range with the large 16th century
stack (to serve vaulted kitchens) survives. 1813-14 castle
adapted to use as court, possible lower part of block
attached to S gable of tower added and Gothic door added
opening onto terrace, parts of courtyard to N demolished.
Circa 1880 NS facing range and SW block raised and gabletted
dormers inserted; conical roofed stair turret on N face
possible added at this date; 3-storey E tower probably 1880s.
Roofs slated.
Interior: little of note remains; vaulted ground floor, some
16th/17th moulded doorpieces, vestiges of nook shafts,
possibly supporting earlier fireplace canopy; later 18th
century chimneypiece.
Originally episcopal palace gifted by Bishop Robert Stewart
to John, 11th Earl of Sutherland in 1557. Dated 1814 with
arms Duchess/Countess of Sutherland. Used in 19th century
as jail, court house and school. By 1881 "refitted and
refurbished as quaint dwelling place for English sportsmen".
Became hotel in 1947.
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