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Rattray was a burgh on the coast of Buchan in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, near Rattray Head and the modern village of Crimond. It lay upon a natural harbour in the Loch of Strathbeg, which in former times was an inlet of the sea. Overlooking the harbour entrance was the Castle of Rattray, built by the Comyn family (earls of Buchan). The burgh may have been laid out by the Comyns in the 13th century. It was made a royal burgh by Mary, Queen of Scots in 1564. The harbour entrance began to silt up in the next century, however, and it was finally closed by a storm in 1720. This caused the burgh, which had never been much larger than a village, to enter a terminal decline. By 1732, "there was hardly a vestige of remaining". All that survives of the burgh today is the ruined Chapel of St Mary and the motte of the old castle, now known as Castle Hill.

References

1. Murray, H. K.; Murray, J. (1993). "Excavations at Rattray, Aberdeenshire, a Scottish Deserted Burgh". Medieval Archaeology. 37: 113.
2. "Shifting Sands". Abandoned Communities. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
3. "NK05NE0003 – Burgh of Rattray". Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Records. Retrieved 1 November 2024.

External links

• Information leaflet including reconstructions of the chapel and burgh
• 17th-century map of Buchan

v t e Settlements and places of interest in Buchan, Aberdeenshire
Primary settlements	Boddam Crimond Cruden Bay Fetterangus Hatton Longside Maud Mintlaw New Deer New Pitsligo Peterhead St Combs St Fergus Strichen Stuartfield
Other settlements	Auchnagatt Buchanhaven Clola Downiehills Inverugie Longhaven Lonmay New Leeds Old Deer Rora Stirling Village Whinnyfold
Places of interest	Aden Country Park/Aberdeenshire Farming Museum Bullers of Buchan Crimonmogate Deer Abbey Formartine and Buchan Way Loch of Strathbeg Maritime Heritage Museum Rattray Rattray Head Slains Castle

57°36′33″N 1°51′27″W / 57.60917°N 1.85750°W / 57.60917; -1.85750

• Villages in Aberdeenshire
• Former populated places in Scotland
• Buchan