Description

Early 16th century. Simple rectangular towerhouse. 4-storey

with attics, double-height vaulted ground floor with timber

mezzanine. Some time in the 17th century a 2-storey and attic

addition was made to the N wall with a slapping at ground,

the shell of this wing was demolished circa 1974 prior to

much restoration and alteration work being done to the tower.

Rubble walling with squared quoins, mainly simply chamfered

openings to smallish irregularly placed windows. The lintel

mouldings of the windows are unusual being projecting and

splayed, possibly as rainwater protection.

The main entrance is to the E wall, a checked- back depressed

arch doorway with joggled voussoirs. Over the door an

heraldic panel, rather weathered, with 2 shields, the upper

supported by 2 unicorns, the Royal arms of Scotland; the

other much worn but apparently those of the Gordon family,

and dated 65, presumably for 1565. A further opening has

been formed circa 1974, a large depressed arch garage door,

opened from the connecting door of the now demolished N wing.

The intra-mural newel stair runs the full-height of the tower

in the SE angle, rising to a crowstepped cap house. Corbelled machicolated parapet with projecting rainwater spouts.

Saddle-back roof with crowsteps and beak skewputts, tall

coped end stacks.

Statement of Interest

Rusko is an important example of a simple rectangular plan

towerhouse which is comparatively sophisticated in its use of

intramural chambers. The mouldings of the window lintels and

the joggle-voussoired door are unusual.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Rusko Castle at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17570469

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)