A few bones are all that have been found inside a mysterious room in a Scottish castle that was recently opened for the first time in 500 years.
The room, measuring just six feet high and six feet across, is located inside the ancient ruins of Mingary Castle near Kilchoan on the bleak and windswept Ardnamurchan peninsula on Scotland's jagged and sparsely populated west coast.
The room was found when builders found a passageway in the north wall of the building and began excavating it.
It is thought the room hadn't been touched since the 16th Century when the walls were filled in to protect against cannon fire.
Historians are still at a loss as to what the room was used for.
Mingary Castle dates back to the 13th Century. King James IV was said to have used it as a stronghold for fighting off the Donald Clan in the late 15th century.
Bones found inside mysterious room hidden in the ruins of Scottish castle after it's opened for the first time in 500 years
Archaeologists believe the tiny chamber was sealed up in the 16th century
Its windows would have been a weak spot if the castle was attacked
Fragments of bones were the only objects found inside the 6 sq ft room
Historians are unsure who, or what, these bone fragments belong to
The castle fell into ruin and was abandoned more than 200 years ago
By Victoria Woollaston
16 January 2014
Daily Mail
A mysterious room hidden inside the ruins of a Scottish castle has been opened for the first time in more than 500 years.
The tiny chamber - measuring 6ft high and 6ft across - was uncovered during restoration work at Mingary Castle near Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.
Historians have admitted they don't know what the room was used for, and all that has been found inside are a few fragments of bone.
A hidden 6ft sq chamber, pictured, has been uncovered during restoration work at Mingary Castle near Kilchoan in Scotland. It was sealed up during the 16th century and historians admit they don't know what the room was used for. The only objects inside were a few fragments of bone
The room was discovered when builders found a passageway in the north wall of the building and began excavating it.
Local historian Jon Haylett, of the Mingary Castle Trust, claims the room hasn’t been touched since the early 16th century, when the walls were filled in to protect against the newly-invented weapon of the era - the cannon.
‘When cannons started being fired at the castle, they would have soon realised they had a huge weakness in their walls because of these windows,’ explained Haylett.
He added the owners would have ‘had no option but to strengthen the walls by filling them in.’
The 13th century castle has lain untouched since it was abandoned more than 200 years ago.
It is owned by Donald Houston, of the Ardnamurchan Estate, who has asked archaeologists to restore the structure to its former glory at a cost of £2million.
The room was uncovered when builders happened upon a passageway in the north wall of the building, pictured, and began excavating it. An historian claims the room was sealed because its windows would have been a weak spot if the castle came under attack from cannons
The room was discovered when builders, pictured, found a passageway in the north wall of the castle and began excavating it. There are still blocks of stone to be removed before the windows can be reached from the inside. When that's completed, the team will be able to look out of them for the first time in 500 years
There are still blocks of stone to be removed before the lancet windows can be reached from the inside and when that is completed, the team will be able to look out of them for the first time in half a millennium.
Haylett continued: ‘It’s difficult to describe the sense of excitement when one steps into a room which was probably blocked up some time in the 15th or early 16th century.
‘There are lancet windows (tall and narrow arched windows) on the outside of the castle which can’t be seen from the inside, so we assumed there was a room there and that’s now been confirmed.
‘They have now reached what is recognisably a room, with a stone floor, an oak ceiling, now lost, and stone walls.
‘They should be done soon and I’m hoping to head down to look through the windows for the first time in 500 years - I can’t wait.’
Due to the castle’s remote location - a mile from the village of Kilchoan in Lochaber, Scotland - it has not been touched since it fell into ruin and was abandoned in the late eighteenth century.
The castle is roughly hexagonal in shape with 9ft-thick walls. The remains of the castle are protected as a category A listed building.
Its position on the seafront meant it held key naval and military significance and King James IV was said to have used it as a stronghold for fighting off Clan Donald in the late 15th century.
Due to the castle's remote location - a mile from the village of Kilchoan in Lochaber, Scotland, pictured - it has not been touched since it fell into ruin and was abandoned in the late eighteenth century
The castle, pictured, is roughly hexagonal in shape with 9ft-thick walls. The remains are protected as a category A listed building. Its position on the seafront meant it held key naval and military significance and King James IV was said to have used it as a stronghold in the late 15th century
WHY WAS THE ROOM SEALED UP?
Local historian Jon Haylett from the Mingary Castle Trust claims the room hasn’t been touched since the early 16th century.
He believes the walls of the tiny chamber were filled in to protect the castle from attack when cannons became popular in warfare.
‘When cannons started being fired at the castle, they would have soon realised they had a huge weakness in their walls because of these windows,’ explained Haylett.
He added the owners would have ‘had no option but to strengthen the walls by filling them in.’
The 13th century castle has lain untouched since it was abandoned more than 200 years ago.
MINGARY CASTLE: A BRIEF HISTORY
Due to the castle’s remote location - a mile from the village of Kilchoan in Lochaber, Scotland - it has not been touched since it fell into ruin and was abandoned more than 200 years ago.
The 13th century castle is roughly hexagonal in shape with 9ft-thick walls.
Its remains are protected as a category A listed building.
Mingary's position on the seafront meant it held key naval and military significance and King James IV was said to have used it as a stronghold for fighting off Clan Donald in the late 15th century.
The castle is owned by Donald Houston, of the Ardnamurchan Estate, who has asked archaeologists to restore the structure to its former glory at a cost of £2million.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2540030/Mysterious-room-hidden-ruins-Medieval-Scottish-castle-opened-time-500-years.html#ixzz2qZX5d9G3
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The room, measuring just six feet high and six feet across, is located inside the ancient ruins of Mingary Castle near Kilchoan on the bleak and windswept Ardnamurchan peninsula on Scotland's jagged and sparsely populated west coast.
The room was found when builders found a passageway in the north wall of the building and began excavating it.
It is thought the room hadn't been touched since the 16th Century when the walls were filled in to protect against cannon fire.
Historians are still at a loss as to what the room was used for.
Mingary Castle dates back to the 13th Century. King James IV was said to have used it as a stronghold for fighting off the Donald Clan in the late 15th century.
Bones found inside mysterious room hidden in the ruins of Scottish castle after it's opened for the first time in 500 years
Archaeologists believe the tiny chamber was sealed up in the 16th century
Its windows would have been a weak spot if the castle was attacked
Fragments of bones were the only objects found inside the 6 sq ft room
Historians are unsure who, or what, these bone fragments belong to
The castle fell into ruin and was abandoned more than 200 years ago
By Victoria Woollaston
16 January 2014
Daily Mail
A mysterious room hidden inside the ruins of a Scottish castle has been opened for the first time in more than 500 years.
The tiny chamber - measuring 6ft high and 6ft across - was uncovered during restoration work at Mingary Castle near Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.
Historians have admitted they don't know what the room was used for, and all that has been found inside are a few fragments of bone.
A hidden 6ft sq chamber, pictured, has been uncovered during restoration work at Mingary Castle near Kilchoan in Scotland. It was sealed up during the 16th century and historians admit they don't know what the room was used for. The only objects inside were a few fragments of bone
The room was discovered when builders found a passageway in the north wall of the building and began excavating it.
Local historian Jon Haylett, of the Mingary Castle Trust, claims the room hasn’t been touched since the early 16th century, when the walls were filled in to protect against the newly-invented weapon of the era - the cannon.
‘When cannons started being fired at the castle, they would have soon realised they had a huge weakness in their walls because of these windows,’ explained Haylett.
He added the owners would have ‘had no option but to strengthen the walls by filling them in.’
The 13th century castle has lain untouched since it was abandoned more than 200 years ago.
It is owned by Donald Houston, of the Ardnamurchan Estate, who has asked archaeologists to restore the structure to its former glory at a cost of £2million.
The room was uncovered when builders happened upon a passageway in the north wall of the building, pictured, and began excavating it. An historian claims the room was sealed because its windows would have been a weak spot if the castle came under attack from cannons
The room was discovered when builders, pictured, found a passageway in the north wall of the castle and began excavating it. There are still blocks of stone to be removed before the windows can be reached from the inside. When that's completed, the team will be able to look out of them for the first time in 500 years
There are still blocks of stone to be removed before the lancet windows can be reached from the inside and when that is completed, the team will be able to look out of them for the first time in half a millennium.
Haylett continued: ‘It’s difficult to describe the sense of excitement when one steps into a room which was probably blocked up some time in the 15th or early 16th century.
‘There are lancet windows (tall and narrow arched windows) on the outside of the castle which can’t be seen from the inside, so we assumed there was a room there and that’s now been confirmed.
‘They have now reached what is recognisably a room, with a stone floor, an oak ceiling, now lost, and stone walls.
‘They should be done soon and I’m hoping to head down to look through the windows for the first time in 500 years - I can’t wait.’
Due to the castle’s remote location - a mile from the village of Kilchoan in Lochaber, Scotland - it has not been touched since it fell into ruin and was abandoned in the late eighteenth century.
The castle is roughly hexagonal in shape with 9ft-thick walls. The remains of the castle are protected as a category A listed building.
Its position on the seafront meant it held key naval and military significance and King James IV was said to have used it as a stronghold for fighting off Clan Donald in the late 15th century.
Due to the castle's remote location - a mile from the village of Kilchoan in Lochaber, Scotland, pictured - it has not been touched since it fell into ruin and was abandoned in the late eighteenth century
The castle, pictured, is roughly hexagonal in shape with 9ft-thick walls. The remains are protected as a category A listed building. Its position on the seafront meant it held key naval and military significance and King James IV was said to have used it as a stronghold in the late 15th century
WHY WAS THE ROOM SEALED UP?
Local historian Jon Haylett from the Mingary Castle Trust claims the room hasn’t been touched since the early 16th century.
He believes the walls of the tiny chamber were filled in to protect the castle from attack when cannons became popular in warfare.
‘When cannons started being fired at the castle, they would have soon realised they had a huge weakness in their walls because of these windows,’ explained Haylett.
He added the owners would have ‘had no option but to strengthen the walls by filling them in.’
The 13th century castle has lain untouched since it was abandoned more than 200 years ago.
MINGARY CASTLE: A BRIEF HISTORY
Due to the castle’s remote location - a mile from the village of Kilchoan in Lochaber, Scotland - it has not been touched since it fell into ruin and was abandoned more than 200 years ago.
The 13th century castle is roughly hexagonal in shape with 9ft-thick walls.
Its remains are protected as a category A listed building.
Mingary's position on the seafront meant it held key naval and military significance and King James IV was said to have used it as a stronghold for fighting off Clan Donald in the late 15th century.
The castle is owned by Donald Houston, of the Ardnamurchan Estate, who has asked archaeologists to restore the structure to its former glory at a cost of £2million.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2540030/Mysterious-room-hidden-ruins-Medieval-Scottish-castle-opened-time-500-years.html#ixzz2qZX5d9G3
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