Kildrummy Castle (14)
Not a particularly visually interesting photograph, but one of great interest to the castle enthusiast!
What is interesting, is the ditch! Because this ain't no ordinary ditch!
One of the greatest problems for the occupants of any defensive structure, is a plentiful supply of drinking water. Hill tops are good places to site castle from a defensive point of view, but all too often they have inadequate water supplies. Kildrummy is built on a low hill top, and while the Snow Tower had a well in its basement, this was probably only sufficient for the use of the last defenders after they had withdrawn there to make their last stand.
The problem was solved here at Kildrummy, by building a sunken passage down to the stream at the bottom of the Back Den. This "ditch" is the collapsed remains of that tunnel. It had stone steps and walls of good ashlar, a little of which still remains below the undergrowth. The roof would no doubt have been arched, to give it protection from any stray trebuchet missile, and the whole thing then covered over with soil and vegetation to hide it from view! Anyone attempting to dig into it and disrupt its use, would have been shot at from the battlements above.
Osbarn the Smith (Continued from previous photo)
On 1st August, Edward of Carnarvon crossed the Mounth and with glittering arms and fluttering pennants, encamped at Kildrummy. The siege of Kildrummy Castle has gone down in Scottish history as one of the outstanding events of the fourteenth century, and the dogged resistance of the Scots under Nigel Bruce ranks as one of the most courageous acts of the War of Independence. Many and furious were the attacks made by the English, but without success, for the Scots were determined to hold out for their king. The days dragged into weeks and there was no sign of the defence crumbling.
But what of Osbarn the Smith? During the preparations for the siege he had been very busy, for there was much to be done. To withstand an onslaught such as the English would deliver, the iron-work of the castle had to be inspected and tested so that it was only when the opposing army was encamped without the walls that Osbarn had some respite from his labours. It was then that he started to think about his future prospects.
Should the castle fall to the English the whole garrison would doubtless be put to the sword, so he had little hope of survival and none of adding to his wealth, whereas, if the garrison succeeded in holding out, he would be in the same position s before. But could they hold out? Not indefinitely. Then he must think out some way in which he could make provision for the future and increase his wealth.
The weeks passed and the outcome of the battle had not been decided. Osbarn the Smith became very restive and his greedy brain was ever at work devising schemes whereby he might make money from the desperate situation in which he now found himself. At last his mind was made up. He would go to the English camp and betray the castle.
At dead of night therefore, he crept from the shadows of the dark, defiant stronghold, and made his way to the English camp. He was taken by the guards to the prince’s tent, where he explained who he was and how he hoped to help the English to capture the castle. There was a long consultation among the leaders, and they prepared a plan in which Osbarn would play an important part. This they did because they were uncertain whether Osbarn intended to betray them in turn to the Scots, thus the part allotted to the blacksmith was not without much risk. He had to return to the castle and, on a signal being given from the English camp, set the building on fire.
His part in the plan was not exactly to Osbarn’s liking for, should he have been missed from the castle he would have difficulty in explaining his absence. He had not bargained on returning. Osbarn weighed the question very carefully; what would he receive if the plan succeeded? The prince told him he would have as much gold as he could carry. The blacksmith could hardly believe his ears – as much gold as he could carry! He was a very strong man, and could carry great weights – why, he would be the wealthiest man in all the broad lands of Mar! It was well worth the risk. [cont. next photo]
Kildrummy Castle (14)
Not a particularly visually interesting photograph, but one of great interest to the castle enthusiast!
What is interesting, is the ditch! Because this ain't no ordinary ditch!
One of the greatest problems for the occupants of any defensive structure, is a plentiful supply of drinking water. Hill tops are good places to site castle from a defensive point of view, but all too often they have inadequate water supplies. Kildrummy is built on a low hill top, and while the Snow Tower had a well in its basement, this was probably only sufficient for the use of the last defenders after they had withdrawn there to make their last stand.
The problem was solved here at Kildrummy, by building a sunken passage down to the stream at the bottom of the Back Den. This "ditch" is the collapsed remains of that tunnel. It had stone steps and walls of good ashlar, a little of which still remains below the undergrowth. The roof would no doubt have been arched, to give it protection from any stray trebuchet missile, and the whole thing then covered over with soil and vegetation to hide it from view! Anyone attempting to dig into it and disrupt its use, would have been shot at from the battlements above.
Osbarn the Smith (Continued from previous photo)
On 1st August, Edward of Carnarvon crossed the Mounth and with glittering arms and fluttering pennants, encamped at Kildrummy. The siege of Kildrummy Castle has gone down in Scottish history as one of the outstanding events of the fourteenth century, and the dogged resistance of the Scots under Nigel Bruce ranks as one of the most courageous acts of the War of Independence. Many and furious were the attacks made by the English, but without success, for the Scots were determined to hold out for their king. The days dragged into weeks and there was no sign of the defence crumbling.
But what of Osbarn the Smith? During the preparations for the siege he had been very busy, for there was much to be done. To withstand an onslaught such as the English would deliver, the iron-work of the castle had to be inspected and tested so that it was only when the opposing army was encamped without the walls that Osbarn had some respite from his labours. It was then that he started to think about his future prospects.
Should the castle fall to the English the whole garrison would doubtless be put to the sword, so he had little hope of survival and none of adding to his wealth, whereas, if the garrison succeeded in holding out, he would be in the same position s before. But could they hold out? Not indefinitely. Then he must think out some way in which he could make provision for the future and increase his wealth.
The weeks passed and the outcome of the battle had not been decided. Osbarn the Smith became very restive and his greedy brain was ever at work devising schemes whereby he might make money from the desperate situation in which he now found himself. At last his mind was made up. He would go to the English camp and betray the castle.
At dead of night therefore, he crept from the shadows of the dark, defiant stronghold, and made his way to the English camp. He was taken by the guards to the prince’s tent, where he explained who he was and how he hoped to help the English to capture the castle. There was a long consultation among the leaders, and they prepared a plan in which Osbarn would play an important part. This they did because they were uncertain whether Osbarn intended to betray them in turn to the Scots, thus the part allotted to the blacksmith was not without much risk. He had to return to the castle and, on a signal being given from the English camp, set the building on fire.
His part in the plan was not exactly to Osbarn’s liking for, should he have been missed from the castle he would have difficulty in explaining his absence. He had not bargained on returning. Osbarn weighed the question very carefully; what would he receive if the plan succeeded? The prince told him he would have as much gold as he could carry. The blacksmith could hardly believe his ears – as much gold as he could carry! He was a very strong man, and could carry great weights – why, he would be the wealthiest man in all the broad lands of Mar! It was well worth the risk. [cont. next photo]