CAWDOR, village and parish, Nairnshire, Scotland. Pop. of parish (1931) 767. The village is situated 5 m. S.S.W. of Nairn and 3 m. from Gollanfield Junction on the L.M.S.R. The castle was the scene, according to the tradition which Shakes peare has perpetuated, of the murder of King Duncan by Mac beth, thane of Cawdor (or Calder), in 1040. Since the oldest part of the structure dates from 1454, however, and seemingly had no predecessor, the tradition has no foundation in fact. The building stands on the rocky bank of Cawdor burn, a right-bank tributary of the Nairn. The massive keep with small turrets is the original portion of the castle, and to it were added, in the 17th century, the modern buildings forming two sides of a square. Kilravock (pronounced Kilrawk) castle, 12 m. W. of Cawdor, commands the left bank of the Nairn. Its keep dates from 1460, and the later buildings belong to the i 7th century. It has been continuously tenanted by the Roses, who came over with William the Conqueror and settled at Kilravock in 1293, since which date son has succeeded father in direct descent. Queen Mary was re ceived at the castle in 1562, and Prince Charles Edward was en tertained four days before the battle of Culloden. The gardens are beautiful.