Eilean Donan Castle

#183 Eilean Donan Castle
8 miles east of Kyle of Lochalsh
South Highland, Scotland
1220 - 16th century
This is NOT an official Lego site

Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, but its beautiful setting and tranquil appearance belie a full and checkered history. The castle is located on a tidal island at the junction of Lochs Long, Alsh and Duich. The earliest known fortification was an enceinte [curtain wall] built by King Alexander II about 1220. It enclosed much of the island [See first plan]. The fortification was built to protect the Earldom of Ross and other nearby realms from the Viking "pirates", presumably from the Lordship of the Isles, a powerful, nominally Norwegian, but mostly independent kingdom, which included the Western Isles, Shetlands, Orkneys and the Isle of Skye. The tower was built by either King Alexander II or III, or Farquhar II, Earl of Ross. The date of the tower is generally listed as 14th century, and thus it was probably built after Robert the Bruce was sheltered there in 1306.

King Alexander III gave the lands to Colin Fitzgerald for his help defeating the Norsemen under King Haakon [Haco] in 1263. His grandson, who in the Gaelic was called Coinneach MacChoinneach (Kenneth son of Kenneth), 3rd Baron of Kintail, became corrupted in English into Mackenzie (pronounced: MacKenny) and hence arose all the families of Mackenzie in Scotland. The name “Mackenzie”, therefore, coming from the Gaelic: “MacCoinneach” meaning: “Son of the Fair One”. In 1331 the Earl of Moray apparently sent a messenger to the Mackenzies at Eilean Donan, warning of an impending visit. Fifty wrongdoers were quickly apprehended and beheaded, with the severed heads mounted on the castle walls, thus assuaging the Earl. In the mid-14th century, a son of the Irish Macrae clan chieftain arrived in Kintail with his family, and by ancient kinship or perhaps an advantageous marriage, the MacRaes soon became the loyal protectors of the Mackenzies. In 1509 the MacRaes became constables of Eilean Donan Castle, and were counted on during about 75 years of clan attacks and retaliations between the Mackenzies and MacRaes, and various MacDonald factions. Colin Mackenzie was created Earl of Seaforth in 1623.

The saga continued with the English Civil War. The Mackenzies (and MacRaes) sided with King Charles I, but after his execution in 1650, Parliament sent a party of 30 soldiers to garrison the castle. When they requested provisions from the locals [Mackenzies and MacRaes], the ensuing argument resulted in several casualties, and the garrison departed. Then in 1689 King James VII [Roman Catholic] was declared forfeit of the Crown in favor of William of Orange [Protestant]. The resultant "Jacobite Risings" caused William Mackenzie, 6th Earl of Seaforth, to hire 50 Spanish mercenaries to garrison the castle for King James. On May 10, 1719, three Royal Navy frigates sailed into Loch Duich, and when fired upon by the Spaniards, proceeded to demolish Eilean Donan with cannon. [see picture]. For the next 200 years the castle languished in ruin, until 1919. Then Lt. Col. John MacRae-Gilstrap, and his Clerk of Works, Farquhar MacRae, spent the next 20 years faithfully restoring the castle into the glorious monument we can visit today.

Photos of the Lego Model Under Construction early Spring 2023

Construction begins on March 19 and 20, with this northwest view highlighting the keep, with the postern gate mid-right and the hornwork left.	On the morning of March 21, before the late winter sun is up, here's the view from the southeast, with a bit of progress.	By March 23, a good part of the eastern side of the island is landscaped - and Colin Fitzgerald and two of his sons have arrived for a visit.	On March 24, the emphasis shifts to the west side of the island, which faces Loch Alsh and the Atlantic tides.


It is this side where the postern gate and narrow stair feature the first few hundred Lego elements going into the actual castle itself!	The next day is devoted to landscaping the slope up from Loch Alsh, where the modern stair leads down to the pathway around the castle.	And a lot of substructure is laid out in anticipation of the actual castle model.	And on March 26th the staircases up from the postern, and down to the rooms below the courtyard are completed, and the lower courtyard is laid.


The south landscape is finished on March 27...	...so the next two days are devoted to construction on the South West Wing and the courtyard curtain wall...	...and the rocky promontory of the Island of Donan upon which the keep was erected.	By March 31 work has concentrated on the south side of the castle...


...plus some definition of the rocky promontory upon which the keep will be built.	By April 3, the northwest tower and the curtain wall that protects the west side of the castle is complete.	The curtain wall involves a lot of speculation on my part, due to major changes in the reconstruction.	On April 5, the South West Wing is completed.


And much work is done creating the rocky promontory inside the courtyard and defining the range which connects the SW Wing and the Keep.	On April 7 work begins on the fourth design of the hornwork, complex due to the angles and the slope of the island.	By the next day walls are rising, and three cannon are in place.	On April 10 the hornwork is mostly complete,...


...melding pretty well into the older, roughly rectangular castle.	...and finally, on April 11, work turns to the all-important keep! The basement and main doors are the first priority.	By April 14 the keep has risen through the first floor...	...and the strength of Eilean Donan castle begins to become manifest.


The structure is in place on April 16 so the parapets and roof can be added.	And on April 17, the wall walk is in place. It looks like 4x4 corner panels will work for the corner open rounds!	Here's the view from the west...	...and the south. These will likely be the final construction pictures. Hopefully completed model below within the week.

Photos of the Lego Model Built March 19 thru April 22, 2023

These pictures were taken on April 22 [pm] or April 23 [early am]. The NE view.	From the east, my somewhat scrunched "slice" of Eilean Donan is more apparent.	Looking at the southeast elevation, you can appreciate the four similar sections that will visit Brickworld Chicago in June.	The "South West Wing" is actually the south corner of the castle


The southwest view is what the Royal Navy frigates saw as they shelled the castle in 1719.	The west view really high- lights the castle from an angle rarely seen by tourists	The rocky pinnacle of Eilean Donan Island, such as it is, is a major feature of the northwest view.	And from the north, a bit more of the island can really be appreciated.


General Plan showing the castle just after the keep was built.	Yes, that's me at the main gate in 2000.	Model of Eilean Donan at Legoland in Bristol, England	Model of Eilean Donan at Legoland in Billund, Denmark


General Ground Floor Plan	General 1st Floor Plan	General 2nd Floor Plan with Ground Floor Plan of the Keep	General 3rd Floor Plan with First Floor Plan of the Keep


2nd Floor Plan	3rd Floor Plan	Garrett Plan	Roof Plan


SE Elevation	NE Elevation	NW Elevation	SW Elevation


Here are a few close-ups: Of the island and hornwork.	And the castle courtyard(s).	With a better view of the grassy courtyard mound, and steps up to the famous keep.	"May sheep safely graze"...


...And this crazy lad not fall from the windy corbie steps!	Who is the angry Scottish gentleman? On a mission to "rescue" his daughter from one of the Spanish mercenaries?	And possibly more later...


Northeast Elevation	Southwest Elevation	Northwest Elevation


SW to NE Cross Section	NE to SW Partial Cross Section