Cobbie Row's Castle

The remains of the early medieval stone fort sits on a low hill on the island of Wyre in Orkney, Scotland.

Excavation of the site has revealed that there were five phases of improvements and additions to the castle complex, with initial changes occurring in the 13th century.

[1][3][4] The late 12th century chronicle, the Orkneyinga Saga, tells of a Norwegian landowner named Kolbein hrúga, who built a 'fine stone castle" (steinkastala) on the island of Wyre around 1145 AD.

The mid-13th century biography of King Haakon IV of Norway, Hagonar Saga, describes the castle as difficult to attack during a siege in 1231.

The chapel was probably built by Hrúga or his son, Bjarni Kolbeinsson, Bishop of Orkney during the mid to late 12th century.

[4] The site of the castle and nearby chapel suggest that the island of Wyre was a powerful and prosperous Norse estate during the medieval era.