Antiquities, the Doune Hill. Dumphail Dornaway Castle. year 1342, the famous William Bullock, who was a great favourite of King David Bruce, was imprisoned there, and died through extremity of cold and hunger. The remains of this castle cover a space of ground not less 100 square yards. The Doune Hill, in the same parish, seems to have been a fortress of still greater antiquity, and used as such far beyond the period of authentic history. It appears to have been a place of strength, to which the inhabitants of the country retired with their cattle upon the invasions of the Danes, Norwegians, or inhabitants of the Orkney isles, to which this county of Moray was so frequently exposed. It is a conical hill, round a considerable part of which runs the rapid river of Divie, in a deep rocky channel; and where not defended by the river, it is encircled by a deep fosse or ditch, with a strong rampart on the outside, mostly composed of stones, some of which have the appearance of vitrification. About a mile higher up the same river stands the Castle of Dumphail, upon a rock of a very singular appearance, surrounded by a deep gully or narrow glen, formed probably by the river, which at a very remote period seems to have run in this channel. The rock is of a considerable size, with a level area upon the summit of it, similar to the Downhill, of a good soil, covered with grass, and several trees growing upon it. The sides are so steep that it is altogether inaccessible, except upon that next the river, where there is a narrow path leading up to the castle. It formerly belonged to a family of the name of Dunbar. It is now the property of Mr Cumming of Altyre. In the parish of Dyke and Moy, at Darnaway, the seat of the Earls of Moray, of the Randolph, Dunbar, Douglas, and Stuart race, stands an old castle, nobly elevated, with great range and variety of prospect, which has been built at different periods, adjoining to a princely hall Antiquities. that had been erected by Thomas Randolph, regent of Scotland during the minority of King David Bruce, for the reception of his numerous vassals. This hall is by much the oldest and most remarkable part of the buildings, which are now altogether a venerable pile. After all the changes which it has undergone, it is still a pleasant monument of ancient hospitality and magnificence. The length is eighty-nine feet, and the breadth thirty-five. It has yet from eighteen to twenty feet of side-wall, though it wants about twelve of its original height, by reason of a range of vaults constructed on its ground-floor for cellars, with a stone pavement above them. It has a buttery in the outer end, and above that a music gallery from side to side. There was a large chimney in the opposite end, and another spacious fire-place in one of its sides. The roof is supported by diagonal couples and rafters of massy oak, more superb than any ordinary ceiling, and resembles that of the parliament house of Edinburgh and Guildhall of London. Earl Randolph's hospitable board of thick oaken plank, curiously bordered and indented, standing on six pillars, draws out at one end to double length. His oaken chair, on which are coarsely carved the bearings of his office and arms, weighs about sixty pounds avoirdupois, and differs little from the coronation-chair in Westminster Abbey. Tradition relates, that when Earl Randolph came here for the purpose of hunting, the custom was, according to the simplicity of ancient times, that the whole floor of the great hall was deeply littered with rushes at night, and the Earl and his whole company reposed thereon together. A number of modern apartments have been added to this building, and are kept in repair by the Earl of Moray, who has servants here, and occasionally visits it. The Antiquities, castle rises on a green mount in the skirt of a vast forest. It commands a very extensive landscape, and in the vici nity is embellished by groves and gardens, and some cultivated territory. In the parish of Duffus some remains are to be seen of military works of the Danes. When Malcolm the Second first attempted to expel them from Moray, we have already said that he was overcome in a pitched battle. "Upon this," says Buchannan," the Castle of Nairn was surrendered to them, which they strongly fortified; and of a peninsula made an isle, by cutting through a narrow neck of land, and then they called it by a Danish name, Burgh." It is supposed that all our historians are mistaken in placing this fort at Nairn, where there never was any such building. But in the parish of Duffus the peninsula above mentioned appears to be situated, and upon it there are large remains of a regular fortification. The cut made to insulate the promontory is yet visible, but now dry, and nearly filled up. The place still retains its Danish name, being generally called by the common people Burgh, and sometimes called and written Burgh-head. After Malcolm had overcome the Danes, under Camus, in the battle of Panbride in Angus, Camus, with his remaining troops, attempted to retreat to Moray by the mountains, but was overtaken, routed, and slain. There is an obelisk standing at the west end of the parish, conjectured to be the obelisk which historians say was erected for this victory: and near this monument there is a village, called Kaine, which is supposed to be the village mentioned by Buchannan as retaining the memorable name of Camus. It is worthy of notice, that at the village of Duffus there is a square (in the centre of which the church is placed) surrounded by four streets regularly paved, the workmanship of Oliver Cromwell's soldiers. |