Hugh de Moravia granted Skelbo in 1211 to
Gilbert de Moravia the
Bishop of Caithness. In 1235, the castle was granted to
Richard de Moravia by his brother Gilbert de Moravia, Bishop of Caithness. King
Edward I of England's commissioners were awaiting the arrival of
Margaret, Maid of Norway at Skelbo Castle, when they learned of her death in
Orkney in September 1290, aged 7 years, whilst on her voyage from Norway to Scotland, to assume the Scottish throne. In 1308,
Robert the Bruce captured a castle at the site belonging to the
Sutherlands. In 1494, the
Murrays of Aberscross were also in dispute with the Kinnaird family over the ownership of Skelbo Castle which eventually went to the Kinnairds, who, like the Murrays, were also descended from Richard de Moravia. In 1529, the castle was bought by
William Sutherland, 6th of Duffus who entered into a contract with John Kinnaird
Of that Ilk to pay him 2300
merks by installments and for each installment he received certain lands including Skelbo to be held from the
Earl of Sutherland as overlord. Kinnaird also conveyed to him, the lands of
Aberscors,
Invershin and others with the whole sale and transfer of Skelbo finally taking place on 15 September 1529. A 16th-century house was built adjacent, but the whole site was abandoned as a residence in the 20th century. • (d.2009) – last owner of the castle, who died without the testament. His legacy is now the subject of a major scandal and litigation in Russia. ==See also==