Plan to dig at Black Isle 'Braveheart' stronghold
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
PLANS are afoot to excavate the ancient stronghold site of the man who was the Black Isle’s "Braveheart".
Andrew de Moray, a brother in arms with William Wallace, is a little-known hero of the Scottish Wars of Independence.
The Highlander raised the flag at his castle at Ormond Hill, near Avoch, to mark the start of a rebellion against the English occupation north of the border by Edward I, known as "Longshanks".
De Moray stood with Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297 and is widely credited with masterminding that battle.
But while Stirling Bridge was a resounding victory for the Scots, it cost Andrew de Moray his life.
While William Wallace has been immortalised in print, monument and film, De Moray has largely slipped out of history.
Now, however, local people hope to shed more light on the freedom fighter’s stronghold at Avoch by testing enthusiasm for a comunity-backed
archaeological dig.
The idea for the excavation came from Avoch resident Mike Armitage, a member of Avoch and Killen Community Council.
Mr Armitage, of Braehead, said: "I had been talking to archaeologists working on the community dig in Cromarty and I realised there might be potential to excavate at Ormond Hill.
"I suggested it to the archaeologists at Cromarty and they seemed very enthusiastic and interested."
The community council has organised a talk in the Church of Scotland Hall in Rose Street, Avoch, on Thursday, August 27 at 7.30pm to gauge local interest in a dig.
Archaeologists Mary Peteranna and Pat Buchanan, from AOC Archaeology, will be there to outline the history of the site.
Mr Armitage said: "The meeting is to inform people about the site, give them the historical background on the castle and and see if the community wants to take this forward. I think it could be a very exciting project.
"Ormond Hill is a historic site and if we could manage to get some sort of archaeological explanation it could be fascinating project.
"But it depends very much on the enthusiasm of the local community."
Archaeologist Mary Peteranna, who is working on the community dig at Cromarty, said: "The fact that we know it’s a castle site means we could expect to find some structural remains.
"That could give us some indication of dates of occupation.
"It was built in the early 13th century but we don’t know how long it was continually occupied.
"I think the project would involve a research element and hopefuly the community could get involved in some of the detective work."
Ms Peteranna revealed that a top academic was also very keen on the site.
Richard Oram, Professor of Environmental and Medieval History at Stirling University, has expressed his interest in an excavation of Ormond Hill.
Craig Fraser, a Black Isle Highland councillor, said: "I think the archaeological dig is an excellent idea. It’s got real potential to put Avoch on the map and to highlight a major piece of Scottish history right on our own doorstep."
