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Author
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Topic: Castle Bean
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Gordon
unregistered
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posted 05-17-2001 02:28 PM
Many moons ago I posted asking if anyone had any data on this castle in the Strath of Findhorn, Scotland. I had no replies, but we now have a larger membership, maybe this time?
I have seen it recorded only once, on John Sped's map of Scotland of 1630. All other castle entries on this map are sites of some importance or renown, though I've been unable to track down any data on this strange entry. ------------------
'Demeure par la verite'
Visit; Gordon's Scottish Castles Resource Page |
AJR
Senior Member
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posted 05-18-2001 05:59 AM
Gordon, I must admit that I first had to look on a map to see where the Strath of Findhorn was. Couldn't find it, but assume it's the tip of land north of Kinloss, which includes the village / town of Findhorn.Not wishing to be presumptuous, but is it possible that the name has been (pardon the pun) changed over the years. I guess you've checked all the alternatives already.
Sorry not to have been (pardon that pun again) of no help whatsoever. |
Gordon
unregistered
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posted 05-18-2001 07:21 AM
Sorry, yes, the Strath is the vale or valley of the River Findhorn. 'Bean Cas.' appears someway upstream from the town of Findhorn, and I've found no records of any castle of any name in the near vicinity.
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'Demeure par la verite'
Visit; Gordon's Scottish Castles Resource Page |
AJR
Senior Member
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posted 05-21-2001 08:09 AM
Could it be that John Sped was referring to a building that was once a castle, but no longer a castle, using the delightful mis-spelling of the day - hence Bean Cas.Joking aside, the only place of note I can see in the area is Forres Castle. Is it near there or further south (or north). [This message has been edited by AJR (edited 05-21-2001).] |
Gordon
unregistered
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posted 05-21-2001 01:44 PM
A 'has-been castle'...very good.
I suspect the site is somewhere in the region of Daless (NH 860 388) , way upstream of Forres, where Canmore (the RCAHMS database) reveals a sluice drain, possible chapel and a cairn.
The site is also close to a ford, which would imply possible need of defense dependant upon the crossing's importance.
This is dependant of course upon Sped's accuracy, and the position in relation to several reference points on his map. Even with a large error margin, there are no suggested castle sites for miles around, Cawdor, Lochindorb and Moy all being clearly marked on the map. There's nothing on Pont's map, though his coverage of that area was a little sparse. I've still got the Statistical Accounts site to check out since the URL was so kindly provided by Andy Knight a while ago.
Checked out the above site, and have found references to a series of sites just south of Inverness which suggest connections to a cleric by the name of Beyn or Bean, and various sites with connections to him. One of these is an old fort, and a possible Roman camp in the form of a rectangular enclosure. However I don't think Sped could have been so inaccurate as to place 'Cas Bean' some 20 miles or so out of place.
The search goes on.
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'Demeure par la verite'
Visit; Gordon's Scottish Castles Resource Page [This message has been edited by Gordon (edited 05-21-2001).] | |
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