General Notes

King Malcolm III (Canmore) built the first castle here in the late 11th
century, along with a bridge over the Clunie Water. King Robert II later
used it as a hunting lodge.
On 10th November 1390 Robert III granted a licence to Sir Malcolm
Drummond, his brother-in-law, to build a tower on the lands of Kindrochit
in the Earldom of Mar. He built the 5th largest tower in Scotland
alongside the older building. Sir Malcolm was attacked in 1402, while
working on his new tower, and died shortly afterwards. The attack is said
to have been carried out, or ordered, by Alexander Stewart, son of the
'Wolf of Badenoch' (Alexander, Earl of Buchan), who had forced the
widowed Isobel, Countess of Mar, into marriage so that he may claim the
Earldom, it was he who then completed the construction of Kindrochit
using the captured crewmen of a Danzig ship.
When Alexander died in 1435, James I annexed the Earldom to the crown, in
spite of claims made by Sir Robert Erskine, nearest heir of the Countess.
Theoldest part, built by Malcolm Canmore, was an oblong tower containing
a hallalmost 100 feet in length. At the north end of the storage cellar,
which wasbelow the hall, there is a small prison. There are no doors so
access must have been by trap door from above. The wall on the north of
the prison has a latrine chute descending through it. The walls off the
castle survive only toa height of around three to six feet and are up to
ten feet thick.
The later work, by Drummond, does not fare much better, though the walls
are a little higher. There is a small cupboard in the south wall and a
section of muralstair in the north, ascending from the gate which once
led to the bridge.
The ruins were excavated in 1925 by Dr. W. Douglas-Simpson, with
financial assistance from the Deeside Field Club and practical assistance
from a party ofboy scouts, who dealt with the undergrowth and the tons
of rubble. A silvergilt brooch was unearthed from the Drummond keep, it
had an inscription in French gothic letters reading 'I am here in place
of a friend', it is now in amuseum. Also found was a fourteen sided
button decorated with a Tudor rose, both items belong to the 16th
century.
It is not known when Kindrochit Castle was abandoned, but it was a total
ruin by 1628. A story tells that the 'galar mor' or terrible plague broke
out within the castle walls and the peopleof the village barricaded the
castle gates and would not let anyone out. Canons were dragged across the
mountains from Atholl and turned on the castle, which is said to have '
crashed in ruin amid the shrieks of those trapped within'. Another story
tells that in 1746 a Hanoverian soldier was lowered into one of the
vaults in search of treasure, he is said to have come across a partyof
ghosts sitting round a table piled high with human skulls.
The Clan Drummond Badge
The heraldic record of the badge is the following: "Out of crest coronet
a goshawk, wings expanded, proper, jessed gules."  You will notice that
the crest is encircled with a belt. This is to distinguish between
clansman and chief, for it only the chief that is able to where the crest
with out the belt. The conventions set, allow the clan members to display
the crest without any heraldic infringement, which can be a major concern
in countries with heraldic authorities.
Gang Warily
This phrase is Anglo-Saxon for "Go Carefully". One wonders, looking at
the history of the clan, if this was ever mentfor the clan member. It
seems that is it others who need to heed this mottowhen dealing with our
kin. A warning to all who would do us harm or injustice.
Many Clans have mattos that double as warnings. It is no wonder, given
the history and reputation of most Highland Clans.

King Malcolm III (Canmore) built the first castle here in the late 11th
century, along with a bridge over the Clunie Water. King Robert II later
used it as a hunting lodge.
On 10th November 1390 Robert III granted a lice