Kildrummy Castle
Goblinshead |
130 Inveresk Rd Musselburgh EH21 7AY SCOTLAND |
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| Although now ruinous, Kildrummy Castle, built in the 13th century, was one of the largest and most powerful early castles in Scotland. The high curtain walls enclosed a courtyard with six round towers at the corners and gate. One of these, the largest, called 'the Snow Tower', may have been the main keep. The original castle was built by Gilbert de Moray in the 13th century. It was captured by Edward I of England in 1296, and then again in 1306 from a garrison led by Nigel Bruce, younger brother of Robert the Bruce, after the castle was set alight by a traitor. Nigel Bruce, and the rest of the garrison, were executed by hanging. The traitor was rewarded with much gold - poured molten down his throat. The castle was restored before 1333, and besieged by the Earl of Atholl acting for the English in 1335. It was successfully defended by Bruce's sister, Christian. Her husband, Sir Andrew Moray, the Regent, relieved the castle and killed the Earl of Atholl. David II besieged it in 1363, and seized it from the Earl of Mar. It was in royal hands from 1361-8, until Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch, acquired it after he had forced Isabella Douglas, Countess of Mar, to marry him. It later passed to the Cochranes, then the Elphinstones from 1507-1626, until they were compelled to give it the Erskine Earls of Mar. It was also sacked in 1530 by the freebooter John Strachan of Lynturk; and was captured in 1654 by Cromwell's forces. The castle was badly damaged in 1690, when it was burned by Jacobites, but was complete enough for 'Bobbing John' 6th Earl of Mar to use it as his base when he led the Jacobite Rising in 1715. After the collapse of the Jacobite cause, Kildrummy was deliberately dismantled, and then used as a quarry. It was put into the care of the State in 1951. |
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653 6566 Tel: +44 (0) 131 665 2894
email:goblinshead@sol.co.uk
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Goblinshead
Coding and layout copyright Scotland
2000
