Castle Mey

Castle Mey

The Castle was built by George, 4th Earl of Caithness, who passed it to his second son, William Sinclair. On his death a short time later, it went to the third son, George Sinclair, who founded the family of the Sinclairs of Mey: they succeeded to the earldom in 1789.

The Castle became the seat of the Earls of Caithness for the next 100 years. Originally known as the Castle of Mey, the name was then altered to Barrogill Castle. It changed hands several times over the next fifty years before coming into the possession of Captain F B Imbert-Terry in 1929, who subsequently sold it to the Queen Mother in 1952.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother first saw what was then Barrogill Castle in 1952, while mourning the death of her husband, King George VI. Falling for its ruined isolated charm, and hearing it was to be abandoned, she declared: “Never! It’s part of Scotland’s heritage. I’ll save it”

Having acquired the most northerly castle on the British mainland, The Queen Mother renovated and restored it and created the beautiful gardens you see today. For almost half a century she spent many happy summers here and shorter visits at other times of the year.

The Castle was built by George, 4th Earl of Caithness, who passed it to his second son, William Sinclair. On his death a short time later, it went to the third son, George Sinclair, who founded the family of the Sinclairs of Mey: they succeeded to the earldom in 1789.	The Castle became the seat of the Earls of Caithness for the next 100 years. Originally known as the Castle of Mey, the name was then altered to Barrogill Castle. It changed hands several times over the next fifty years before coming into the possession of Captain F B Imbert-Terry in 1929, who subsequently sold it to the Queen Mother in 1952.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother first saw what was then Barrogill Castle in 1952, while mourning the death of her husband, King George VI. Falling for its ruined isolated charm, and hearing it was to be abandoned, she declared: “Never! It’s part of Scotland’s heritage. I’ll save it”	Having acquired the most northerly castle on the British mainland, The Queen Mother renovated and restored it and created the beautiful gardens you see today. For almost half a century she spent many happy summers here and shorter visits at other times of the year.