page_title: Knock Castle, Aberdeenshire
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Knock Castle, Aberdeenshire / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: knock castle
context_page_description: Knock Castle is a ruined tower house in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. It is typical of the traditional type of residence of a laird, a Scottish landed gentleman. Knock Castle is in Royal Deeside, about 1 mile west of the town of Ballater, and about 6 miles east of Balmoral. It sits on a knoll in a field on the south side of Craig of the Knock, a low hill at the entrance to Glen Muick. The castle is a category B listed building, and is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. Knock Castle is the ancestral seat of Lady Krisztina de Varga of Knock.
context_section_description: Knock Castle is a four-storey ruin, dating from approximately 1600. MacGibbon and Ross note a resemblance to Birse Castle, also in Aberdeenshire, as well as similarities with Borders pele towers.
  The rectangular tower and measures about 27 feet (8.2 m) by 22 feet (6.7 m), with walls of about 4 feet (1.2 m) thick. The external walls of the castle survive intact, although the tower is roofless. The inside of the tower is entirely ruined, but the remains of a vaulted basement, used as a kitchen, and a spiral turnpike staircase can still be seen. At the top of the stair is a gabled cap house. An unusual feature at Knock are the defensive shot holes for pistols, of which three are located under each of the numerous windows. The shot holes are all angled to the ground, with the centre one pointing forward and the two outer holes pointing slightly askew.
  The foundations of an enclosing courtyard wall are still visible. The entrance opened on to the north side of the surrounding courtyard, and would have been protected by a strong wooden door and an iron yett. Various out-buildings, including a brewery, stables, or bake house, for example, would have been set around the perimeter wall of the courtyard.
  A short distance to the west is a motte, or mound, with the possible foundations of a 12th-century timber stronghold, known as the Old Castle Knock. Belonging to the Earls of Mar, this structure was destroyed in 1590 by the Clan Chattan (Macintosh). What little remains of the site appears to have evidence of a corn-drying kiln within.
caption: Approach to Knock Castle
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