Scottish sundials of the renaissance period are not just more numerous than in any other country—they are also stylistically unique. This is particularly notable when the size and wealth of Scotland at the time are taken into account. They are free standing stone sculptures of the 17th and 18th centuries with many small dials inscribed on them. Accurate time telling is clearly not the aim. Precision is sacrificed for decorative effect. Unlike the sundials of similar date on the continent where baroque decoration may be added, the mathematical complexity of the Scottish dials is decoration enough. The ancient sundials of Scotland can be grouped into three main styles: lectern, obelisk and facet-head.
Dunure Castle is located on the west coast of Scotland, in South Ayrshire, about five miles south of Ayr and close to the village of Dunure. Today the castle stands in ruins on a rocky promontory on the Carrick coast, overlooking the small harbour of Dunure.
MacLellan's Castle in the town of Kirkcudbright, in Galloway, Scotland, was built in the late 16th century. It stands in the centre of Kirkcudbright, on the south side of the River Dee which flows into the Solway Firth. The L-plan castle was the residence of the MacLellan family from whom it derived its name. The family sold the castle in 1752, and from 1782 to 1912 it was held by the Earls of Selkirk. Today, the site is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
Powrie Castle is a ruined 16th-century castle located in the north of Dundee, Scotland. It was designated as a scheduled monument in 1971. The early 17th-century north range of the castle is now a separate fortified house and has been converted into a private residence. It itself is a Category A listed building.
David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross were Scottish architects. Their practice, MacGibbon and Ross was established in 1872 and continued until 1914. They are best known today for their comprehensive published surveys of Scotland's architectural heritage.
Towie Barclay Castle is a historic castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 4.5 miles south-south-east of Turriff. The current structure, which was built by Clan Barclay in 1593, is a Category A listed building.
Ardclach is a small crofting hamlet, close to Glenferness in the old county of Nairn, Scotland, within the Scottish council area of Highland.
Abbot's Tower is a late-16th-century tower house situated near New Abbey, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, that was built by the Abbot of Sweetheart Abbey. The building was restored in the early 1990s and is now used as a private residence and as a bed and breakfast. This structure should not be confused with the Abbot's Tower of Alnwick Castle.
Esslemont Castle is a ruined tower house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located on the A920 west of Ellon and is designated a scheduled ancient monument.
Bassendean is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Westruther and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north-west of Gordon. It is by the Eden Water in the former Berwickshire, immediately south of the hamlet of Houndslow.
Knockdavie Castle is a now-ruined 17th-century house in Burntisland parish, Fife, Scotland. The name probably derives from the Gaelic cnoc dubh -in "(place of the) black hill(ock)", with cnoc dabhoch “the hill farm” another theory. It is recorded under the alternative name of Stenhouse in 1561, which survives in the name of the modern day adjacent farmhouse. It is said to have belonged, in the seventeenth century, to a Douglas, recorded in an appendix to The Scots Worthies as an opponent of the Covenanters.
Ochiltree Castle is a 16th-century tower house a few miles south east of Linlithgow in West Lothian, Scotland. It is also described as a farmhouse and lairds house. Along with its boundary wall, the castle was designated as a Category A listed building in 1971.
Udny Castle is a tower house in the parish of Udny, southwest of the village of Pitmedden and northeast of the hamlet of Udny Green, Aberdeenshire, in the northeast of Scotland. The area is generally flat but the castle is sited on the highest ground and can be seen for a considerable distance. Its exact construction date is unknown, but its foundations probably date from the late 14th or early 15th century. Additional storeys were added and a later extension, described as a "modern mansion", was incorporated but subsequently demolished. It is a Category A listed building.
Robert John Abercromby was the seventh Scottish Abercromby baronet. He held the estates of Birkenbog and Forglen, as well as land in Ireland. He served as Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire, and Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of Supply for both Aberdeenshire and Banffshire.
Corse Castle near Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire, now ruined, was a fortress and centre of a landed estate in the north-east of Scotland. The present castle dates from the 16th century and stands by the Corse Burn, around 3 miles north-west of Lumphanan.
Bonhard Castle was an L-plan tower house, dating from the 16th century, around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south east of Bo'ness, in West Lothian, Scotland. It was demolished in 1962.
Comrie Castle is a ruined castle about 15 miles north of Comrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The castle is located on the River Lyon.
The Castle of King Edward is a 13th-century ruined castle near King Edward, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of Turriff, where the A947 crosses the Burn of King Edward, and 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the River Deveron. The castle was the caput of the feudal barony of King Edward.
The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Scotland from the Earliest Christian Times to the Seventeenth Century is a book that was published in 3 volumes in 1896-1897 by Scottish architects David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross.
Ardclach Bell Tower is an historic structure in Ardclach, Scottish Highlands. Dating to at least 1655, it is now a Category A listed building. It is believed to be the only tower and belfry combination in Scotland.
