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Crichton Castle

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368: 486:. William Crichton extended the castle in the early 15th century, building a second tower to the south, forming a strong L-plan, with the gate between the two towers. The south tower was entered by a door in the centre, with vaulted cellars either side. Two halls occupied the first and second floors. In the later 15th century a west block was added, with a six-storey tower at the south-west, containing several bedrooms with garderobes. A stair in the south block gave access to these rooms. The north range was added at this time, closing the courtyard, but this section was heavily rebuilt in the following century. 474: 360: 51: 67: 490: 74: 234:
Constructed as a tower house in the late 14th century, it was expanded as the power of the Crichton family grew. However, the Crichtons fell from favour in the later 15th century, and the castle passed to the Earls of Bothwell. Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell, constructed the Italianate north
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Crichton Castle comprises four contiguous buildings arranged around an inner courtyard. The 14th century tower lies at the east of the castle, and has a vaulted basement with timber entresol, and a vaulted hall above, although the south-west corner of the tower has collapsed. To the west of this
422:. Bothwell lost the king's favour and was accused of witchcraft and forfeited his estates in 1592. He was eventually forced to flee to Naples where he died. His son Francis Stewart was reinstated, but laboured under his father's debts, and sold the castle to the Hepburns of Humbie. 509:(c. 1582). This was the source of the diamond rustication on the courtyard wall. The initials of Francis and his wife Margaret Douglas appear on the walls, together with an anchor representing Stewart's position of 298:, and his lands and titles were forfeit in 1483, when Albany was sentenced for treason. Crichton Castle, along with Bothwell Castle, was briefly granted to Sir John Ramsey, who forfeited it in 1488. That year, 367: 827: 287:
and a Douglas adherent, stormed and slighted the castle in 1445 in retaliation. William, however, reconstructed and extended the castle, and also built the nearby
832: 395:, spent a few nights at the castle while attending this wedding. The Earl of Bothwell was implicated in February 1567 in the murder of Queen Mary's husband 349: 399:, and became Mary's third husband in May of that year. In December, all Bothwell's titles and estates, including Crichton Castle, were forfeited. 380: 411: 40: 498: 403: 327: 303: 66: 97: 276: 837: 337: 260: 521:
to the north of the old tower. To the south of the castle is a large stable block, with a horseshoe-shaped window and lodgings above.
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ordered an assault on Borthwick and Crichton castles. Crichton was besieged and captured on 3 November 1559 by the Duke's son,
822: 330:, inherited the castle and intrigued with the English against the Scottish crown, but eventually made peace with the regent, 501:, the designer, had travelled to Italy, and was inspired by new styles and technology in buildings there, particularly the 473: 510: 446: 323: 240: 145: 36: 842: 497:
The castle's most distinctive feature is its Italian-influenced courtyard façade, which forms part of the north range.
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The castle was the scene of the marriage and wedding festivities, on 4 January 1562, of Patrick's daughter
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James VI stayed at Crichton Castle on 19 June 1598, his birthday, after a day's hawking.
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Selections from unpublished manuscripts illustrating the reign of Mary Queen of Scotland
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range in the 1580s, featuring an elaborate diamond-patterned facade. After Bothwell was
441:. In 1956, the castle was given into state care by its owner, Major Henry Callander of 437: 284: 816: 331: 268: 741: 518: 432: 407: 376: 272: 356:. They ransacked Crichton and took away Bothwell's legal charters and evidences. 256: 807: 661: 616:
HMC Report on the manuscripts of Colonel David Milne Home of Wedderburn castle
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In 1568, Crichton Castle, along with Bothwell's other estates, was granted to
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in c. 1443. In 1440, William had been partly responsible for organising the "
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The Mediaeval Castle in Scotland: (Rhind lectures in archaeology, 1925 - 26)
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The north west corner of the courtyard, showing diamond-pattern facade.
483: 279:, was murdered. As a result, Crichton obtained the Douglas property of 418:
was at Crichton on 17 March 1587, planning an embassy to Denmark with
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Crichton Castle – site information from Historic Environment Scotland
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the castle fell into neglect. The ruins are now in the care of
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since 1921. Crichton was used as a location in the 1995 film
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In the late 14th century, John de Crichton (d.1406) built a
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in Lanarkshire for himself. John of Corstorphine, chief of
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in 1513. The castle became the property of Adam's widow,
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Crichton Castle - lithograph by James Duffield Harding
247:, a 15th-century tower house that is still in use. 194: 186: 181: 173: 163: 151: 141: 136: 128: 91: 23: 604:Correspondence of Sir Patrick Waus of Barnbarroch 223:, 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the village of 790:Midlothian: An Illustrated Architectural Guide 517:a modern-style staircase with landings; and a 344:, and when he took English money sent to the 8: 710:"Crichton Castle: Scheduled Monument Report" 554:, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1898), pp. 260-1, 262: 431:painted the castle, and it features in Sir 259:here as his family residence. John's son, 55:Aerial view of Crichton Castle and stables 20: 828:Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Midlothian 726:"Crichton Castle: Listed Building Report" 363:The castle ruins in the late 18th century 294:The 3rd Lord Crichton was a supporter of 488: 530: 207:is a ruined castle near the village of 73: 776:The Castles of Lothian and the Borders 685:"Crichton Castle, The Slaughter House" 340:, sided with Mary of Guise during the 808:Video about Crichton Castle's history 785:, BT Batsford/Historic Scotland, 1997 762:The Castles of Scotland (3rd Edition) 350:James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault 328:Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell 7: 833:Renaissance architecture in Scotland 277:William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas 219:. It is situated at the head of the 606:, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1887), p. 382. 590:, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1898), p. 590. 354:Earl of Arran and Master of Maxwell 338:James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell 650:Mackenzie, William Mackay (1927). 563:, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1899), p. 163 14: 656:. Methuen & Company Limited. 296:Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany 541:(Edinburgh, 1899), p. 76 no. 301 227:, and the same distance east of 72: 65: 49: 748:. Historic Environment Scotland 728:. Historic Environment Scotland 712:. Historic Environment Scotland 691:. Historic Environment Scotland 631:. Historic Environment Scotland 588:Calendar State Papers Scotland 552:Calendar State Papers Scotland 1: 511:Lord High Admiral of Scotland 447:Historic Environment Scotland 391:. John Stewart's half-sister 387:and illegitimate son of King 324:Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home 241:Historic Environment Scotland 146:Historic Environment Scotland 304:Patrick Hepburn, Lord Hailes 16:Ruin in Midlothian, Scotland 445:. It is now in the care of 302:granted Crichton Castle to 265:Lord Chancellor of Scotland 859: 838:Ruined castles in Scotland 778:, Folly Publications, 1994 771:, Constable & Co. 1986 556:Aeneas James George Mackay 539:Calendar of Laing Charters 406:, son of John Stewart and 397:Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley 379:(d. before July 1599) and 326:in 1514. Lady Agnes's son 629:"Crichton Castle SM13585" 618:(London, 1892), pp. 68-9. 346:Lords of the Congregation 198:John de Crichton (d.1406) 132:Tower house and courtyard 60: 48: 28: 477:Plan of Crichton Castle 263:(d. c. 1453), served as 769:The Castles of Scotland 577:(Glasgow, 1837), p. 77. 561:Chroniclis of Scotland 494: 478: 372: 364: 823:Castles in Midlothian 792:, Rutland Press, 1995 492: 476: 370: 362: 312:Adam, the second Earl 306:, who was later made 237:accused of witchcraft 503:Palazzo dei Diamanti 393:Mary, Queen of Scots 342:Scottish Reformation 31:Crichton, Midlothian 843:Ruins in Midlothian 764:, Goblinshead, 2001 385:Prior of Coldingham 275:", where the young 109: /  783:Scotland's Castles 781:Tabraham, Chris '' 573:Joseph Stevenson, 495: 479: 459:and the 2011 film 451:scheduled monument 373: 365: 320:Lady Agnes Stewart 152:Controlled by 113:55.8411°N 2.9895°W 767:Lindsay, Maurice 760:Coventry, Martin 742:"Crichton Castle" 600:Robert Vans-Agnew 449:, and has been a 316:Battle of Flodden 289:collegiate church 202: 201: 190:Late 14th century 850: 757: 755: 753: 737: 735: 733: 721: 719: 717: 701: 700: 698: 696: 681: 675: 672: 666: 665: 647: 641: 640: 638: 636: 625: 619: 613: 607: 597: 591: 584: 578: 571: 565: 549: 543: 535: 412:Margaret Douglas 310:. Hepburn's son 308:Earl of Bothwell 245:Borthwick Castle 158:Earl of Bothwell 155:Crichton family 137:Site information 124: 123: 121: 120: 119: 118:55.8411; -2.9895 114: 110: 107: 106: 105: 102: 76: 75: 69: 53: 44: 43: 21: 858: 857: 853: 852: 851: 849: 848: 847: 813: 812: 799: 751: 749: 740: 731: 729: 724: 715: 713: 708: 705: 704: 694: 692: 683: 682: 678: 673: 669: 649: 648: 644: 634: 632: 627: 626: 622: 614: 610: 598: 594: 585: 581: 572: 568: 550: 546: 536: 532: 527: 499:Francis Stewart 471: 462:The Wicker Tree 429:J. M. W. Turner 404:Francis Stewart 281:Bothwell Castle 267:, and was made 253: 205:Crichton Castle 166:the public 165: 156: 117: 115: 111: 108: 103: 100: 98: 96: 95: 87: 86: 85: 84: 83: 82: 81: 80:Crichton Castle 77: 56: 39: 34: 29: 24:Crichton Castle 17: 12: 11: 5: 856: 854: 846: 845: 840: 835: 830: 825: 815: 814: 811: 810: 805: 798: 797:External links 795: 794: 793: 786: 779: 772: 765: 758: 738: 722: 703: 702: 676: 667: 642: 620: 608: 592: 579: 566: 544: 529: 528: 526: 523: 470: 467: 322:, who married 314:, died at the 285:Clan Forrester 252: 249: 200: 199: 196: 192: 191: 188: 184: 183: 179: 178: 175: 171: 170: 167: 161: 160: 153: 149: 148: 143: 139: 138: 134: 133: 130: 126: 125: 93: 89: 88: 79: 78: 71: 70: 64: 63: 62: 61: 58: 57: 54: 46: 45: 37:grid reference 26: 25: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 855: 844: 841: 839: 836: 834: 831: 829: 826: 824: 821: 820: 818: 809: 806: 804: 801: 800: 796: 791: 788:Thomas, Jane 787: 784: 780: 777: 774:Salter, Mike 773: 770: 766: 763: 759: 747: 743: 739: 727: 723: 711: 707: 706: 690: 686: 680: 677: 671: 668: 663: 659: 655: 654: 646: 643: 630: 624: 621: 617: 612: 609: 605: 601: 596: 593: 589: 586:Joseph Bain, 583: 580: 576: 570: 567: 564: 562: 557: 553: 548: 545: 542: 540: 534: 531: 524: 522: 520: 516: 512: 508: 504: 500: 491: 487: 485: 475: 468: 466: 464: 463: 458: 457: 452: 448: 444: 440: 439: 434: 430: 426: 423: 421: 417: 413: 409: 405: 400: 398: 394: 390: 386: 382: 378: 369: 361: 357: 355: 351: 348:, the Regent 347: 343: 339: 335: 333: 332:Mary of Guise 329: 325: 321: 317: 313: 309: 305: 301: 297: 292: 290: 286: 282: 278: 274: 270: 269:Lord Crichton 266: 262: 258: 250: 248: 246: 242: 238: 232: 230: 226: 222: 218: 214: 210: 206: 197: 195:Built by 193: 189: 185: 180: 176: 172: 168: 162: 159: 154: 150: 147: 144: 140: 135: 131: 127: 122: 94: 90: 68: 59: 52: 47: 42: 38: 32: 27: 22: 19: 789: 782: 775: 768: 761: 750:. Retrieved 745: 730:. Retrieved 714:. Retrieved 693:. Retrieved 688: 679: 674:Thomas, 1995 670: 652: 645: 635:17 September 633:. Retrieved 623: 615: 611: 603: 595: 587: 582: 574: 569: 560: 551: 547: 538: 533: 519:drawing room 514: 496: 482:tower was a 480: 469:Architecture 460: 454: 443:Preston Hall 436: 433:Walter Scott 427: 424: 408:Jean Hepburn 401: 381:John Stewart 374: 336: 293: 273:Black Dinner 254: 233: 204: 203: 182:Site history 164:Open to 18: 420:Peter Young 257:tower house 116: / 92:Coordinates 817:Categories 662:1008315489 525:References 383:, who was 229:Gorebridge 221:River Tyne 213:Midlothian 101:55°50′28″N 33:, Scotland 752:24 August 732:24 August 716:24 August 695:24 August 174:Condition 104:2°59′22″W 416:James VI 300:James IV 225:Pathhead 217:Scotland 209:Crichton 41:NT380613 746:Canmore 689:Canmore 507:Ferrara 484:barmkin 456:Rob Roy 438:Marmion 389:James V 261:William 251:History 660:  177:Ruined 187:Built 142:Owner 754:2017 734:2017 718:2017 697:2017 658:OCLC 637:2018 515:i.e. 377:Jean 129:Type 505:in 435:'s 334:. 291:. 211:in 169:Yes 35:UK 819:: 744:. 687:. 602:, 558:, 465:. 231:. 215:, 756:. 736:. 720:. 699:. 664:. 639:.

Index

Crichton, Midlothian
grid reference
NT380613

Crichton Castle is located in Midlothian
55°50′28″N 2°59′22″W / 55.8411°N 2.9895°W / 55.8411; -2.9895
Historic Environment Scotland
Earl of Bothwell
Crichton
Midlothian
Scotland
River Tyne
Pathhead
Gorebridge
accused of witchcraft
Historic Environment Scotland
Borthwick Castle
tower house
William
Lord Chancellor of Scotland
Lord Crichton
Black Dinner
William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas
Bothwell Castle
Clan Forrester
collegiate church
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany
James IV
Patrick Hepburn, Lord Hailes
Earl of Bothwell

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