Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for John o'Groat's House

John o'Groat's House, a house of octagonal shape formerly existing in Canisbay par., NE. Caithness, on the Pentland Firth, 1½ mile W. of Duncansbay Head; its site is outlined on a mound, near which is an inn with an octagonal tower commanding a magnificent view over the sea to the Orkneys. According to the legend, the original house was built octagonal in order to settle a question of precedence in the Groat family. "John o'Groat's" denotes the northern extremity of the Scottish mainland.


(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a house of octagonal shape"   (ADL Feature Type: "buildings")
Administrative units: Caithness ScoCnty
Place: John O Groats

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