Affleck Castle facts for kids

Affleck Castle is a tall, old castle in Scotland.

Affleck Castle, also known as Auchenleck Castle, is a tall, old building from the 1400s. It is a type of castle called an L-plan tower house. This means it's a strong, tall home shaped like the letter 'L'. You can find it about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Monikie Parish Church in Angus, Scotland.

Affleck Castle is a very important historical site. It is protected as a scheduled monument, which means it's a special place that must be preserved. The castle is not open for people to visit inside.

History of Affleck Castle

Who Owned Affleck Castle?

Affleck Castle was built on land owned by a family called the Auchenlecks. They were the first owners of this impressive tower house.

Later, in the early 1700s, the castle belonged to a family named the Reids. They were involved with a group called the Jacobites. These were people who supported a different royal family for the throne of Great Britain.

Why Affleck Castle is Empty Now

Because of their activities, the Reid family lost control of the castle in 1746. Since 1760, no one has lived in Affleck Castle. That's because a new, bigger house was built nearby for the family to live in.

Exploring Affleck Castle's Structure

How Tall is Affleck Castle?

Affleck Castle is very well-preserved, even though it's very old. It stands about 60 feet (18 metres) tall. The castle has four main floors, plus a special top floor called a garret with a protective wall around it.

The walls of the castle are very thick and made of strong stone. Inside these thick walls, there are several hidden rooms.

Inside the Castle: Rooms and Features

When you enter, a few steps lead down to the basement. This area is divided into smaller sections.

The main hall is on the first floor. It has a special arched ceiling called a vaulted ceiling. Above the hall, there's another room called a withdrawing room. This was a private space for the family.

There's a small bedroom called an entresol bedroom, which is almost 7 feet (2.1 metres) square. You reach it by climbing eleven steps built into the east wall, leading from the main hall.

The withdrawing room has a clever "spy-hole" that looks down into the hall. This allowed people in the withdrawing room to see who was coming up the main spiral staircase. This room also has window seats, small closets in the walls, and a fancy fireplace.

The Castle's Special Chapel

From the withdrawing room, a step leads up to a round room called an oratory. This was a small, private chapel for prayer. It has special features like an aumbry (a small cupboard for sacred items), a piscina (a basin for washing holy vessels), a holy-water stoup (a basin for holy water), and stone candle-holders. This room also has a vaulted ceiling.

Each of the upper floors of the castle has its own bedroom.

Castle Defenses and Security

Affleck Castle was built to be safe. Near the main door, there's a part that sticks out with a square room on top called a cap-house. This covers the staircase. There's also a square turret (a small tower) on the southwest corner.

The castle had ways to defend itself from attackers. There are two openings designed for dropping things like stones or hot liquids on enemies below. One is above the arched main door, and the other is on the west side of the castle. The ground floor also has gun loops, which are narrow openings for firing guns safely from inside.