Caskieben

Caskieben (Scottish Gaelic: Gasach beinn "Wooded Hill") Caskieben was a palisaded tower built by the Garviach family during the 12th-century Norman expansion into Scotland. It stood on a low, circular mound surrounded by a 2 meter deep, 15 meter wide moat.

This earlier wooden tower was superseded nearby by a 13th-century stone castle also named Caskieben at first, but later renamed Keith Hall.

Nothing now remains of a structure, but the mound and moat are still visible.

History
About 1224 Norman de Leslie received the lands of Caskieben and was doubtless the builder of the Anglo-Norman castle which superseded the old tower (NJ72SE 40). The castle of Caskieben that was enlarged after 1662 by the addition of a Renaissance mansion in front, and re-named Keith Hall, was, however, a fine example of the Z-plan castle, a style which probably originated in the district.

Mither Tap has an astronomical alignment with Caskieben, the hill being due west. Dr. Arthur Johnston said "the hill of Benochie, a conical elevation about eight miles distant, casts its shadow over Caskieben at the periods of the equinox."