{{Short description|15th century castle in Angus, Scotland}} {{redirect|Auchenleck Castle|Auchinleck Castle|Auchinleck Castle, East Ayrshire}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox military installation | name = Affleck Castle | location = Monikie, Angus | coordinates = {{coord|56.53855|-2.82437|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | image = Affleck Castle (geograph 4266315).jpg | caption = The castle in 2014 | mapframe = yes | mapframe-wikidata = yes | type = | built = | builder = | controlled by = | materials = | height = | used = | condition = | ownership = | open_to_public = | embedded = {{Infobox designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Scheduled Monument | designation1_offname = Affleck Castle | designation1_type = Secular: castle | designation1_date = 23 November 1987 | designation1_number = {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90007|short=yes}} }} }}

'''Affleck Castle''', also known as '''Auchenleck Castle''', is a tall L-plan tower house dating from the 15th century, {{convert|4|mi}} north of Monifieth and {{convert|1|mi}} west of Monikie Parish Church, Angus, Scotland.<ref name=Canmore>{{cite web |url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/33311/details/affleck+castle/|work=Canmore|title=Affleck Castle|accessdate=2013-04-16 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland}}</ref><ref name=Lindsay>Lindsay, Maurice (1986) ''The Castles of Scotland''. Constable. {{ISBN|0-09-473430-5}} p.46</ref> It is a scheduled monument.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90007|desc=Affleck Castle|access-date=2019-03-25}}</ref> It is not open to the public.

==History== The castle was built on the lands of the Auchenlecks of that Ilk<ref name=Lindsay/> held since 1471.<ref>The Castles of Scotland by Martin Coventry ISBN 1-899874-00-3</ref> From the mid-17th century it belonged to a family of Reids,<ref name=Lindsay/> who forfeited the castle in 1746 because of their activities as Jacobites.<ref name=GazetteerforScotland>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst8870.html| title=Affleck Castle|work=Gazetteer for Scotland |accessdate=2013-05-15}}</ref> It has not been occupied since 1760, when a new mansion was built.<ref name=Lindsay/>

==Structure== Affleck Castle is a well-preserved free-standing rectangular tower of four storeys and a parapeted garret.<ref name=GazetteerforScotland/> It is {{convert|60|ft}} tall, and has thick rubble walls, with several mural rooms.<ref name=Lindsay/> A few steps down from the entrance is the basement, which is sub-divided.<ref name=Lindsay/>

The hall, which is on the first floor, has a vaulted ceiling; this supports a withdrawing room.<ref name=Lindsay/> Above the main staircase is an entresol bedroom, almost {{convert|7|ft}} square, reached by an eleven-step staircase in the east wall. The stairs lead from the hall.<ref name=Lindsay/> The withdrawing room has a spy-hole into the hall below.<ref name=Lindsay/> This would have allowed all movement to the main turnpike stair to be observed.<ref name=Lindsay/> The room has window seats, wall closets, and a shafted fireplace.<ref name=Lindsay/> A step up from this room leads to a circular oratory, equipped with aumbry, piscine, holy-water stoup and stone candle-holders.<ref name=Lindsay/> This room is also vaulted.<ref name=Lindsay/> There is a bedroom in each of the upper floors.<ref name=Lindsay/>

A projection by the door, with a square cap-house, houses the stair,<ref name=Lindsay/> and there is a square turret over the south-west angle.<ref name=Lindsay/> There are two devices for dropping missiles or liquids on attackers: one over the arched door; and the other on the west front,<ref name=Lindsay/> while the ground floor is equipped with gun loops.<ref name=Canmore/>

==References== <references />

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Category:Castles in Angus, Scotland Category:Listed castles in Scotland Category:Scheduled monuments in Angus Category:Tower houses in Scotland