Concerns over ‘unsafe high-level masonry’ as Wick castle site remains fenced off

The historic Castle of Old Wick will remain closed off to the public for the foreseeable future amid concerns over “a high likelihood of unsafe high-level masonry”.

Access restrictions have been in place at the cliff-top ruin south of the town for well over two years, and a stonework inspection – previously scheduled for last autumn – has yet to take place.

It was announced in January 2022 that access to the castle, which is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), was being restricted to allow survey work to check the extent of deterioration of high-level masonry.

Fencing was later installed, cutting off access across the full width of the promontory on which the castle sits. A sign was put up saying: “We regret this monument is closed.”

The sign remains in place and an accompanying message states: “During a condition check, we identified a potential risk of danger from falling masonry that needs to be explored further. The monument is closed while we undertake further detailed examination and remedial works.”

The nearby footpath is popular with local walkers and forms part of the John O’Groats Trail.

A spokesperson for HES said: “Due to the Castle of Old Wick’s location on a narrow and high cliff promontory, arranging this inspection safely is particularly challenging.

“At the same time, given how exposed the castle is to the elements, there is a high likelihood of unsafe high-level masonry, which means the site must remain closed as a precaution until the inspection takes place and identified repair works can be carried out.

“We are working on allocating the resource and budget for this inspection. We do not have a timeframe at this moment, but will update when we have further information.”

A year ago, HES said pre-inspection work at the castle had started, adding: “We are anticipating the inspection to take place later this year as there are considerations, including nesting birds, which mean that work will start in the autumn.”

For many years it was thought the castle had been built by Harald Maddadson around the 1160s, making it one of the oldest in the country.

However, doubts have arisen over the timeline following scientific analysis on a piece of alder wood recovered from a wall socket. This research appears to challenge the idea of a 12th-century date for the castle.

The HES website says: “It is difficult to ascribe a definite date to this spectacular stronghold, but its origins are probably in the later 14th century.

“Known to some as ‘The Old Man of Wick’, the castle is dominated by its four-storey tower. Parts of its seaward side have long since collapsed but extensive earthworks and a deep rock-cut ditch, once spanned by a drawbridge, can still be examined.”

Outlining its programme of inspections, HES says on its website: “Our climate is changing, and with it bringing new challenges for the conservation of these landmarks we hold dear. We’ve seen an increase in deterioration of stonework and falling masonry at some of our sites, presenting potential risks for our visitors, staff, and the sites themselves.

“While climate change isn’t the only reason for this, it has been a key factor in reassessing how we manage our properties. That’s why we’ve taken the proactive step to address this accelerated decay and manage the consequences of deterioration.

“To do this, we’ve had to put safety restrictions in place at affected sites and limit visitor access. The restrictions that are in place at our sites are precautionary in nature. They’re in place for the safety of our staff and visitors while we establish the condition of the sites.

“Inspections are progressing well and on schedule. Some sites that we have inspected have needed relatively little work to make them accessible again, however, others will require a lot more work before we can restore access.”

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.