Barra Castle, Tower house from the 16th century in Bourtie, Scotland
Barra Castle is an L-shaped tower house from the 16th century in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, featuring a main block with two distinctive towers at opposite corners. The circular tower at the southwest and the D-plan tower at the southeast containing the entrance define the building's structure.
The castle was built in the 16th century, long after a significant medieval event that took place on the same land. In 1598, George Seton, chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, acquired the estate and established it as his seat of authority.
The place served as the main seat of the Barra barony for centuries and shaped the local landscape as an important center of power. Today visitors can experience the rooms used by generations of landowners and see how they lived and governed the region.
The property operates today as a family farm offering accommodation in lodges and a farm shop selling local produce. The site is also used for weddings and events, so visitors may find different activities and access depending on the time of year.
A hammerstone tool discovered during excavations at the site is now preserved at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow and connects the place to much older human activity. This find reveals that people used the area in ancient times, thousands of years before the castle was built.
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