Abergeldie Castle facts for kids
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Abergeldie Castle is an old, four-story tower house in Scotland. It's located in Aberdeenshire, near the River Dee. The castle stands about 840 feet (256 meters) high. It is about 5 miles (8 km) west of Ballater and 2 miles (3 km) east of the royal home, Balmoral Castle.
Abergeldie Castle is a very important historical building. It is protected as a category A listed building. The castle is currently the home of the Baron Abergeldie.
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History of Abergeldie Castle
The name "Abergeldie" comes from an old language called Pictish. It means "Confluence of Geldie," which refers to where the River Geldie meets the River Dee.
A very old standing stone, about 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall, stands on the castle lawn. This shows that people have lived in this area for a very long time. The castle has also been owned by the same family, the Gordon family, for 600 years. This is one of the longest unbroken ownership records!
The castle was probably built around 1550. Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar built it. His family bought the land in 1482. Inside, the castle has been carefully brought back to look like it did originally.
Abergeldie During Risings
Abergeldie Castle was involved in some important historical events. During the first Jacobite rising in 1689–90, the castle was surrounded by Jacobite soldiers. But government troops, led by General Hugh Mackay, came and ended the siege.
The castle was used again in the 1715 Jacobite Rising. Government soldiers stayed there. It was also used briefly in the 1719 Rising, when Spanish troops were there.
Royal Connections to Abergeldie
In 1848, Prince Albert, who was Queen Victoria's husband, rented the Abergeldie estate. He rented it for 40 years because it was close to Balmoral Castle, the new royal home in Scotland.
Prince Albert later gave the property to his son, Albert Edward. He was the Prince of Wales and later became King Edward VII. However, Queen Victoria took the property back in 1885. This was likely because Edward didn't stay there often, and Queen Victoria needed more space for her growing family. Edward VII did enjoy staying at Abergeldie for hunting and playing card games.
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Other important people stayed at Abergeldie too. The Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria's mother, spent several autumns there. Empress Eugénie of France also stayed there in 1879. King Edward VII's daughters, Princesses Louise, Victoria, and Maud, also visited.
Another nearby property, Birkhall, was also bought by Prince Albert. It is still owned by the royal family today. King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, spend time there. In Scotland, they are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.
Abergeldie Today
Abergeldie Castle is currently lived in by the 21st Laird, John Seton Howard Gordon. He has lived there since 1972. Before that, the royal family had leased the land for their Balmoral estate.
In January 2016, the castle was in danger from floods. The River Dee rose very high and washed away much of the land behind the castle. This left the castle very close to the river's edge. For a short time, people were worried the castle might collapse. Luckily, engineers were able to make sure the castle was safe.
Castle Structure
Abergeldie Castle is a strong and impressive building. The oldest part is a square tower, which is typical for a "tower house." It measures about 35 by 28 feet (10.7 by 8.5 meters). It has a round stair tower in one corner. The walls are very thick, about 4 feet (1.2 meters). This was common for castles built in those times when safety was very important.
People believe the castle might have once had a moat around it, but there is no sign of it today. In the 1700s, a new part was added to the castle. Later, in the early 1800s, a special roof was built on top of the stair tower. A large window was also added to the south side.
The castle's land stretches about 10 miles (16 km) along the River Dee. It has many trees like Scotch pine, larch, and birch.
Ghost Story
Abergeldie Castle is said to have a ghost! The ghost is believed to be a French serving woman named Catherine (or Kittie) Rankie. She was also known as French Kate. People accused her of being a witch. She was kept in the castle cellars and then burned at a nearby place called Craig-na-Ban. This place overlooks the castle. Since then, people say Kate's ghost has been seen in the cellars and in the clock tower.
Images for kids
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Suspension Bridge Over Dee at Abergeldie Castle
See also
In Spanish: Castillo Abergeldie para niños
