CASTLES SINCLAIR AND GIRNIGOE
The great stronghold of Girnigoe Castle is the most spectacular ruin in the north of Scotland and is built on
a high peninsular rock with precipitous cliffs to the sea on three sides. A goe derives from the Norwegian
and means a cave, a rocky creek or inlet or a deep ravine that admits the sea. The castle was, until the
invention and use, of the canon, completely impregnable. Built sometime between 1476 and 1496 by
William, the 2nd Sinclair Earl it was cut off from the mainland by two great dry ditches. Various
outbuildings were added overtime and the very fine architectural addition known as Castle Sinclair was
built in 1606 and the Castles were integrated and used as one as in many other cases. Local stone was used
in the construction of both Castles and the walls look like an extension of the cliff face. The only exception
being the red sandstone lintels and corner stones which were probably quarried and brought over from the
isle of Eday in Orkney. This is also true of Keiss Castle, another Sinclair stronghold that stands on the
other side of Sinclair Bay. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Earls occupied the Castle(s). George Sinclair of
Keiss, who later became the 7th Earl, was responsible for the destruction of the Castles in about 1690, by
the use of canon, forcing Campbell of Glenorchy, who was occupying them, to withdraw.
They have not been occupied since, and are at present owned by our clan chief The Rt.Hon. Malcolm Ian
Sinclair the 20 Earl, and let to the Castle Sinclair and Girnigoe Trust with a view to preventing further
deterioration. Various works have been carried out already and there are comprehensive plans to preserve
what remains for future generations to admire. (See THE FUTURE below.)
THE EARLS OF CAITHNESS
The autonomous maritime principality known as the Jarldom of Orkney, and the Earldom of Caithness, are
the most ancient in geographical Britain. The first recorded Earl was the Norwegian Rognvald also Earl of
Moeri, who was granted the title by King Harald of Norway in 871. He was of the House of Odin and
started the Norse line. The title went to the House of Atholl or Royal Scottish line, the Angus line, the
Stratherne line before passing to the St. Clair line in 1455. On this basis Malcolm is the 58 th holder of the
Earldom.
THE SINCLAIR LINEAGE
Although Caithness became the stronghold of the Sinclair family, it was Rosslyn that was the cradle of the
family in Scotland. First of the 'Lordly' line of the high St Clair was William 'the Seemly' who had
accompanied Margaret, the Saxon Princess, from Hungary to Scotland in 1057. She eventually married
Malcom III (known as 'Canmore' or Big Head) whilst William was made her 'cupbearer' because he was
‘perfect in all his members'. The King gave him Rosslyn in life-rent but this was eventually changed to
'in free heritage' because of William's service to the King. (He had been killed whilst defending the
Scottish borders against an English attack). His son and successor, Henri de St Clair (the first Sinclair to
be born in Scotland) took part in, the 1st Crusade and was at the fall of Jerusalem in 1096.
In succeeding years, the Sinclair’s strengthened their position in Scotland. They took part in the Battle of
Rosslyn 1304 (when three English armies of 10,000 men each were defeated in a single day) and at the Battle
of Bannockburn in 1314 King Robert the Bruce presented a sword to another Sir William Sinclair (of the
Hermandston Branch).
He made another William Sinclair (of the Rosslyn Branch) Bishop of Dunkeld
and took his brother, Henry Sinclair, into his own service. It was to this Henry Sinclair that he entrusted
the duty of taking his heart to the Holy Land on his death. However, by the time of Bruce's death in 1329,
Henry was too old so he passed on the task to his two sons, William and John and to Sir James Douglas, Sir
Robert Logan and Sir William Keith. On their way to the Holy Land, they were persuaded to help the
Spanish in their battle against the Moors and, for their pains, were killed at the Battle of Teba in 1330.
However, the Moors thought so much of the courage of the Scottish knights that they gave permission for
their bodies to be returned to Scotland. Sir William Keith, who had survived the battle, had the historic
role of returning the heart of Bruce back to Scotland.
Because of the death of the sons of Sir Henry Sinclair in Spain, the Barony of Rosslyn passed directly to his
grand son who was yet another William Sinclair. It was this William Sinclair who married the daughter of
Malise 11, the 'jarl’ of Orkney, which resulted in the 'jarldom' of Orkney eventually coming to the
Sinclair’s of Rosslyn. This occurred in 1379 when King Haakon VI of Norway granted the Orcadian
Earldom to William's son, Henry Sinclair. This was really the peak of Sinclair power, They owned large
Estates throughout Scotland plus 200 strategically placed islands in the North Atlantic ~ the stepping stones
to the New World. Prince Henry, as he became known, was also the premier ‘jarl’ of Norway by virtue of
his descent from the House of M'o're. He was certainly one of the most powerful men in 14th Century
Europe, controlling the northern access to the Atlantic Ocean and with a large fleet when ships represented
power.
There is compelling evidence to confirm that in 1398, Prince Henry travelled in the wake of his Viking
forebears to the New World. Almost 100 years before Columbus is reported to have discovered America,
Prince Henry sailed with an armada of 12 ships, fully crewed and with 200 hundred men-at-arms on board
for better protection of the fleet. There is evidence from early maps and from reading the ‘Zeno’ narrative,
that Prince Henry was accompanied by fellow Knights Templar, and by Cistercian (farming) monks. After
an unsuccessful attempt to land in Markland (Newfoundland) they decided to sail on to Estotiland
(Nova
Scotia). Five ships were lost, and another two so badly damaged that they had to be abandoned but not
before they had been stripped of all valuable materials-including cannon. As a Venitian cannon of the 14 th
Century was dredged up from the harbour of Loisborg on Cape Breton Island, it is likely that this was the
place where Henry first landed in the New World. The Zeno map would tend to confirm this conclusion.
The ‘Jarldom’ of Orkney remained in Sinclair hands until the Northern Isles were handed over to James
111 of Scotland, as part of the dowry, of Princess Margaret of Denmark in 1471. Thereafter, the Sinclair
influence shifted south to Caithness where Prince Henry’s grandson, William, had already been made Earl
in 1454.
However, Earl William’s real claim to fame lies in the building of Rosslyn Chapel in 1446. It is an
architectural mystery as well as being a masterpiece. Its carvings are full of symbolism and of great
relevance to Templar and to Masons. Indeed, it is considered to be the core Chapel of the Masonic
movement.
It is hoped that one day soon it will reveal its true secrets to those that believe and have kept the Chapel
alive.
However it is to Caithness that most Sinclair’s look when trying to trace their ancestry.
We have touched on a little of the past history of the Sinclair’s, because we believe, there can not be a
constructive future, if we do not have an understanding of our past, after all, we are nothing without our
roots.
THE FUTURE.
Let us now look at our plans to ensure that history will be preserved and be more readily available for
Sinclair’s (and others) to study.
With this in mind, Ian Sinclair, whose family hails from Thurso, has purchased the 35-acre Noss Head
LightHouse estate, and its associated buildings, which stand on the promontory next to Castles Sinclair and
Girnigoe. It is, therefore, ideally placed - historically and geographically.
As some of the buildings come under a Grade A classification, it was necessary to apply for permission for,
(A) change of use and, (B) to make the desired alterations to change part of the complex into a residential
Library, Museum, and Study Centre. A very comfortable three-bedroomed house has already been
created with an adjoining twin-bunked self-catering bothy. Another outhouse-stableblock will also be
converted into suitable student self-catering accommodation when we have sufficient funds.
The Study Centre has already received over 300 rare historical books, gifted by Niven Sinclair, one of the
Trustees of the Sinclair and Girnigoe Castles Trust, and this is to be added to by books, which the late
James Whittall has donated. Indeed, it is proposed to have a plaque in recognition of the work of James
Whittall in identifying Newport Tower in Rhode Island with the, voyage of Prince Henry Sinclair in 1398.
Many other books and documents have also been promised from our friends and supporters across the
waters.
When the Centre is up and running we will then turn our attention 100% to our castles, and the serious
work we have to address. In the meantime work has not stopped on the castles, the members of our Task
Force still keep the wheels of progress turning with the constant paperwork and correspondence that
requires attention. The work that has already been undertaken in laying down a suitable road still requires
our attention to keep it in good condition, and this is an ongoing project with the valued assistance of
Andrew Morgan the local farmer.
It is our intention to invite the local employment agencies to encourage young unemployed people from the
area to take part in the maintenance of the many historic sites that stud the Caithness landscape.
They could also be invited to assist in the archaeological ‘digs’ working under the supervision of qualified
persons. One of the requirements would be that they attend tutorials, to engage their interest, and to
capture their enthusiasm about the rich heritage on their doorstep.
Caithness is steeped in history. The Sinclair’s have been part of that history since they were first granted
land there by King David 1 (1124-1153) but, even before that early date, Einer had built a castle at
Knockinnon when Caithness was still a part of the Norwegian realm.
AND WHO WAS EINAR?
Einar was the youngest son of Rogenwald ‘the Mighty’ whose descendant Malise11 sired a daughter, Isabel,
who married Sir William Sinclair of Rosslyn.
AND WHO WAS SIR WILLIAM SINCLAIR?
He was the direct descendent of Hrolf ‘the Ganger’ who was granted the Duchy of Normandy, by King
Charles ‘the Simple’ of France, by a Treaty signed at Castle St Clair-sur-Epte in 911 and from which place
the Sinclair’s (St Clairs) take their name.
AND WHO WAS HROLF ‘the GANGER’?
Hrolf or Rollo, as the French knew him, was the eldest son of Rogenwald ‘the Mighty’ so we have the
descendants of two brothers, uniting in the offspring of that marriage. The first to be born in 1345 was non
-other, than Prince Henry Sinclair who, as we have said before, followed in the wake of his Viking ancestors
by voyaging to the New World in 1398.
Rt. Hon. MALCOLM IAN SINCLAIR
Chief of the Clan Sinclair
NIVEN SINCLAIR.
IAN SINCLAIR.