Almond Castle facts for kids
Almond Castle is an old, ruined castle from the 1400s. It's found about 3 miles west of Linlithgow in Falkirk, Scotland. You can spot it north of the Union Canal. For a long time, it was called Haining Castle. This castle is not safe to enter today, and it's protected as a special historical site.
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The Story of Almond Castle
Who Owned Almond Castle?
The land where Almond Castle stands first belonged to the Crawford family. They built the castle around the year 1470. Later, in the 1540s, the castle changed hands. It went to the Livingstone family through a marriage. The Livingstones added new parts to the castle. They built an extension on the southwest side. In 1586, they added another section along the southeast wall.
How Almond Castle Got Its Name
The castle's name changed from Haining to Almond in 1633. This happened when James Livingstone was given the title Baron Livingstone of Almond. After a historical event called the Jacobite rising of 1715, the Livingstone family lost the castle. It became the property of the crown. The castle was left empty and abandoned in the 1750s. In 1783, the ruined castle was sold to William Forbes.
What Almond Castle Looks Like
Inside the Castle Ruins
Almond Castle has a strong, arched basement. The main hall, where people would gather, was on the first floor. There was also a kitchen located in one of the castle's wings. The castle was quite tall, with four main floors and an attic space at the very top.
Outside the Castle Walls
Around the castle, there was a courtyard. This area was protected by a wall and a ditch. Inside the courtyard, you can still see parts of other buildings from the 1500s. The main entrance to the castle was on its long southeast side. This entrance led directly to the first floor.
