Nest to the Warden's tower is a postern from chich a passage led down to a cistern chamber and a means of escape beside the stream. The original castle dates from the 12th century, and was a small motte created out of the top of a glacial mound. This stone castle, west of the original, was built under the direction of Gilbert de Moravia, Bishop of Caithness, for Alexander II to command the roads between the provinces of Moray and Mar. Kildrummy remained a powerful fortress when the Earls of Mar had custody of it. In 1306, Edward besieged Kildrummy and the ladies of Bruce's court, during the Lord's absence. The women put up a good defense but were forced to submit after Osborne the blacksmith treacherously set fire to the grain stores and the castle.
Stone does burn.
A polite euphemism, no doubt. At some point, the castle was rendered uninhabitable by the destruction of the west wall, but it is likely this was done by the Bruce's themselves to keep Kildrummy out of English hands. The castle was restored by 1333, when it formed the prison of Duncan, Earl of Fife. Mar. She wasn't a willing bride on this occasion. In 1507, Kildrummy was granted to Alexander, 1st lord of Elphinstone, whose family retained it until 1626.