Support the Corse Castle Fund
- May 24
- 2 min read
Corse Castle has stood for us for centuries. Now it is our turn to stand for Corse.
Corse Castle stands today as a gaunt, roofless shell on a quiet rise above the Corse Burn—its stones weathered, its halls silent, its once‑proud silhouette softened by centuries of wind and overgrowth. Yet for the Forbes family, this ruin was once the beating heart of a powerful cadet line whose influence stretched across Scotland, Ireland, and the world.
In 1476, King James III granted Patrick Forbes—a younger son of Alexander, 2nd Lord Forbes, and the king’s own kinsman—the lands of O’Neil and Corse. With this royal charter, the Forbeses of Corse were born, destined to produce bishops, baronets, soldiers, and statesmen:
Patrick Forbes, Bishop of Aberdeen
William “Dantzig Willie,” builder of Craigievar Castle
John Forbes of Corse, the uncompromising Presbyterian reformer
Arthur Forbes, founder of the line that became the Earls of Granard in Ireland
For generations, Corse Castle was a center of learning, faith, and leadership. Today, however, Corse Castle is at risk of slipping beyond memory.
The Clan Forbes Society is taking its first steps toward restoring dignity and accessibility to this ancestral site. While we cannot yet rebuild the castle or establish a visitor center, we can ensure that clan members from around the world can safely visit, walk its interior, and reconnect with the place where so much of our shared story began.
To do this, we must clear the overgrowth that chokes the interior, remove debris, level the ground, lay a floor with granite chips, and build safe steps from the roadside.
The total cost for this essential work is $10,000.
This is where you come in. Please contribute to the Corse Castle Fund today.
Corse Castle has stood for us for 550 years. Now it is our turn to stand for Corse.
Guardian of Corse — $1,000 or more
Defender of the Line — $500
Steward of the Garioch — $250
Friend of Corse — $100
All donors of $100 more will be listed on this page, unless you prefer to remain anonymous.
GoFundMe charges a standard payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per donation. The Society also accepts Zelle bank transfers and checks made payable to the Clan Forbes Society. Please mail to Norman M. Forbes IV, Treasurer, Clan Forbes Society, 2767 Forest Manor Dr., Frisco, Texas 75034 USA.
The Clan Forbes Society is a nonprofit organized under section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and its Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 83-2816169. If you would like to discuss the project in more detail and how you can help, please contact Bart Forbes at president@clan-forbes.org. He would be happy to conduct a private Zoom video conference with you.
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