Ballinbreich Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballinbreich Castle |
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 Ballinbreich Castle
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| Coordinates | 56°22′16″N 3°10′49″W / 56.371177°N 3.180184°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | 14th-16th century |
| Built by | Clan Leslie |
Ballinbreich Castle is an ancient and ruined tower house castle found in Fife, Scotland. A tower house is a strong, tall building that was used as both a home and a fort long ago. This castle has a rich history and was once a very important place.
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Discovering Ballinbreich Castle
Ballinbreich Castle was first built way back in the 14th century, which means the 1300s! It was constructed by a powerful Scottish family known as Clan Leslie. Over the years, the castle was changed and rebuilt many times, especially in the 16th century (the 1500s).
Castle Design and Location
Most of what you see of the castle today was built in the 1500s. It's an interesting type of castle called an L-plan castle. This means it's shaped like the letter "L" when you look at it from above. The castle has three floors and sits in a great spot overlooking the Firth of Tay. A "firth" is like a long, narrow arm of the sea.
Today, Ballinbreich Castle is protected as a scheduled monument. This means it's a really important historical site that needs to be preserved. For a long time, it was the main home of the Leslie family, including the Earl of Rothes.
What Was Around the Castle?
Old maps show that Ballinbreich Castle might have had a curving wall or a big earth bank around it. These walls are not there anymore. From above, you can still see faint marks in the ground, called "crop marks," which show where two curving areas used to be. The inner area was probably a beautiful garden in the 16th century. Other straight crop marks might show where later garden features were located.
Royal Visitors at Ballinbreich Castle
Ballinbreich Castle was important enough to host some famous guests!
- Mary, Queen of Scots: This famous Scottish queen stayed at the castle twice. She visited on March 23, 1563, and again on January 26, 1565.
- Regent Morton: In September 1575, Regent Morton visited Ballinbreich. A "regent" is someone who rules a country when the king or queen is too young or unable to rule.
- King James VI: Later, King James VI of Scotland also visited the castle on June 18, 1583. He was on his way to other important places.
Ballinbreich Castle might be a ruin now, but it has a fascinating past filled with powerful families and royal visits!
Images for kids
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Ballinbreich Castle today
