Dunoon Castle

13th–15th century

The castle is first recorded in the thirteenth century. It may have been constructed in the context of the Stewarts increasing authority in Cowal.

In 1333, Dunoon Castle was besieged and taken by Edward Balliol, who surrendered it to Edward III of England. An insurrection ensued, driving Balliol out of Scotland. Robert the Steward, later King Robert II of Scotland, arrived in Cowal and, with the help of Colin Campbell of Lochow, retook the castle.

James III undertook to repay his Master of Household, Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll for repairs to the castle in 1468, and made him keeper of the castle in 1472. By the 15th century it was a royal castle with the Campbells as hereditary keepers.

16th century

In 1544, Dunoon Castle was besieged by Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox. Having eighteen ships and 800 soldiers provided by Henry VIII of England, Lennox succeeded in taking the Castles of Dunoon and Rothesay. Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll, was driven out, sustaining great loss.

Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed at the castle from 27 to 29 July 1563 while visiting her half-sister, Jean Stewart, Countess of Argyll, and granted several charters during her visit. Food consumed during her visit to Dunoon was recorded in her household book. Mary's rebels met up at Dunoon during the Chaseabout Raid. Her brother the Earl of Moray's faction in Argyll included the Duke of Châtelherault, and the Earls of Argyll and Rothes. They left for Ayrshire on 18 August 1565.

17th century

In 1646, the Dunoon massacre occurred in which the Campbells slaughtered men, women, children, and infants of Clan Lamont. After the restoration of the episcopacy under Charles II, Dunoon became the residence of the bishops of Argyll for a time.

20th century

During World War I and II, military fortifications were established at Dunoon Castle for the defense of the River Clyde and the shipbuilding industry.

References

References

1. {{Historic Environment Scotland
2. (14 June 2016). "Amended Entry 5450". Historic Environment Scotland.
3. {{Historic Environment Scotland
4. {{Historic Environment Scotland
5. (2000). "Excavation of 10th-Century Burials at Chapelhall, Innellan, Argyll, 1994". [[Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland]].
6. Dawson, JEA. (1995). "Argyll: The Enduring Heartland". [[Scottish Historical Review]].
7. (1878). "Days at the coast : a series of sketches descriptive of the Firth of Clyde, its watering places, its scenery, and its associations". Dunn.
8. (1868). "Colegate's Guide to Dunoon, Kirn, and Hunter's Quay".
9. ''HMC 4th Report: Duke of Argyll'' (London, 1874), p. 477.
10. "Colegate's Guide".
11. "Colegate's Guide".
12. Thomas Small, "Queen Mary in the Counties of Dumbarton and Argyll", ''Scottish Historical Review'', 25:97 (October 1927), p. 19.
13. Joseph Bain, ''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 190, 193.
14. "Colegate Guides".
15. "Colegate's Guide".
16. {{Historic Environment Scotland