Crichton Castle & Stables

Looking over my last few castle blips I realise that they might be a little dry and don't really convey the absolute joy it is to wander round these buildings, so I won't bore you with another history lesson. Well, maybe a wee one at the end!

Today when I arrived at Crichton I was met by Colin, the Historic Scotland site guide who offered to tell me about the castle's history. I took him up on his offer after I'd finished my tour and we ended up chatting for half an hour or so. His enthusiasm for not only the history of the place but the local wildlife was infectious. I thoroughly recommend a visit to Crichton and if you go, and he offers, let Colin enlighten you!

The visit to Crichton pulls together a number of strands from previous blips.

The castle was most likely built by John de Crichton around 1400, but it was his son William who had acquired power and wealth through his close association with James I, moving up the political ladder from Sheriff of Edinburgh to Chancellor in 1439 and making the Crichton's one of the richest families in Scotland. To this end, William invested in extending his father's castle and much of what remains today was built for him. William spent a lot of his life in bitter quarrel with the all powerful family of Black Douglas, who in spite having given over Tantallon Castle to the younger Red Douglas branch of the family were still the most powerful family in Scotland.

Political intrigue lead to the downfall of the Crichton family, being implicated in a conspiracy against the Crown in 1484 and the lands forfeit, eventually bestowed to Sir John Ramsay of Bothwell by King James III. Following his death and defeat at the hands of his son, James IV, Ramsay along with others loyal to James III fled to England. The land and titles of Bothwell in turn were granted to the Hepburn family, who by now were also lairds of Hailes.

Scandal was to follow again when James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell was involved in the plot conceived at Craigmillar Castle to murder Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary Queen of Scots. His subsequent marriage and her downfall lead to the loss of the lands again.

It wasn't until 1581 that Francis Stewart took possession and proceeded to transform the castle into a baronial palace, introducing some of the extravagant styling's he had seen on his travels to Spain and Italy. However, in 1595 Stewart had fled the country and the castle was ordered rasit and castin doun by James VI, an order which was never carried out fully. The castle ceased to serve as the lords residence and was abandoned. By 1659, the masonry was being carried away to construct local buildings.

You can find some more captures taken on my visit on my blipfolio.