Abstract
Orkney is perhaps best known, in the context of castles, for Cubbie Roo’s
castle (Figure 16.1, 1), thought to be one of the earliest stone-built keeps in Scotland. However, its relationship to other fortified buildings in the earldom, and the role of these buildings in 12th-century Orcadian society, is less well understood. Why was a stone keep built in Orkney in the mid 12th century? From where did the inspiration come? Was it exceptional or did it form part of a wider pattern of ‘castle’ architecture? To address these questions, Cubbie Roo’s castle will be discussed in the context of 12th-century Orkney society and compared with other similar buildings, with particular emphasis on their placement. This study aims to evaluate the evidence in the context of Northern European maritime power and the recent revision of ideas of kingship and feudalism in the wider Scandinavian world.
castle (Figure 16.1, 1), thought to be one of the earliest stone-built keeps in Scotland. However, its relationship to other fortified buildings in the earldom, and the role of these buildings in 12th-century Orcadian society, is less well understood. Why was a stone keep built in Orkney in the mid 12th century? From where did the inspiration come? Was it exceptional or did it form part of a wider pattern of ‘castle’ architecture? To address these questions, Cubbie Roo’s castle will be discussed in the context of 12th-century Orkney society and compared with other similar buildings, with particular emphasis on their placement. This study aims to evaluate the evidence in the context of Northern European maritime power and the recent revision of ideas of kingship and feudalism in the wider Scandinavian world.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Castles and Galleys |
Subtitle of host publication | A reassessment of the historic galley-castles of the Norse-Gaelic seaways |
Editors | Paula Martin |
Place of Publication | Laxay |
Publisher | Islands Book Trust |
Pages | 226-248 |
Number of pages | 23 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781907443763 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2017 |
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Sarah Jane Gibbon
- Archaeology Institute - Lecturer
- UHI Orkney
Person: Academic - Research and Teaching or Research only