 Though lacking weapons they were well-provisioned and, when a force of 500 Jacobites (supporters of the exiled James) laid siege, the garrison were able to hold out until after the defeat of the main Jacobite force at Cromdale in May 1690.When the soldiers finally left they blew up the gatehouse to prevent reoccupation of the castle by the Jacobites.Large blocks of collapsed masonry are still visible beside the remains of the gatehouse.