The lands of Mey belonged to the
Bishops of Caithness. The Castle of Mey was built between 1566 and 1572, possibly on the site of an earlier
fortification, by
the 4th Earl of Caithness. According to a February 2019 report: "The castle was probably built between 1566 and 1572 by George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness [and] includes a dominating tower with a series of tall ranges to the side and rear creating a three-sided courtyard open to the north and the sea."Originally a
Z-plan tower house of three storeys, it had a projecting wing at the south-east, and a square tower at the north-west. The castle's name was changed to Barrogill, and the structure was extended several times, in the 17th and 18th centuries, and again in 1821 when
Tudor Gothic style alterations were made, to designs by
William Burn. In 1929 it was bought by Captain
Frederic Bouhier Imbert-Terry. The castle was used as an officers' rest home during the
Second World War, and in 1950 the estate farms were sold off. By that time, only the tower was habitable.
Royal residence Barrogill Castle was in a semi-derelict state when, in 1952, the
estate was bought by
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the widow of
King George VI, who had died earlier that year. The Queen Mother set about restoring the castle for use as a holiday home, removing some of the 19th-century additions, and reinstated the castle's original name. As part of the restoration, the castle was for the first time supplied with electricity and water. Other work done in 1953–1954 included making the castle weathertight and habitable, as well as painting and plastering. The castle interior was also refurbished over the next few years. The west wing restoration was not completed until 1960. It is now open seven days a week from 1 May until 30 September each year, with a closed period of ten days at the end of July and the beginning of August, when
King Charles III and
Queen Camilla usually stay at Mey. The Trust opened a new Visitor Centre in early 2007, and had 29,000 visitors.
The Castle of Mey Trust The Castle of Mey Trust was established by a Deed of Trust executed on 11 June 1996. Its president was the then Prince of Wales. The Trust would manage the property; its mandate was "to secure the future of the building, advance historical and architectural education, to develop the native breeds of
Aberdeen Angus and
Cheviot sheep and to undertake projects for the benefit of the local community", according to one report. After 2002, the Trust opened the castle for five months each summer to generate revenue that would sustain the property. In 2018, nearly 30,000 visits were recorded. The Foundation stated its intention to retain the Trust's goals: "...the preservation of buildings and monuments; the promotion of historical and architectural education; the preservation of the
Aberdeen Angus breed of cattle, and the championing of wider benefits to the community, while the Duke of Rothesay and The Prince's Foundation is certain to make the continuation of his grandmother’s legacy a priority."
The Granary Lodge bed and breakfast In early May 2019, the Prince of Wales (now
Charles III) formally opened a new building, Granary Lodge, as a 10-bedroom bed and breakfast on the castle grounds. This building combined the previous stables and granary. During the planning stages, it was decided to have "eco-heating" and to use local materials and craftsmen where possible. The business is owned and operated by the Trust and planned to accept guests starting on 15 May 2019. Profits will go to maintaining and operating the estate as a tourist destination.
Public use In January 2023, it was reported that the castle tearoom would open to the public every Tuesday until March as a
warming centre, an initiative by
the King's Foundation. ==In popular culture==