Balquhain Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balquhain Castle |
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| Aberdeenshire | |
Ruins of Balquhain Castle
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 Balquhain Castle
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| Coordinates | 57°18′08″N 2°26′50″W / 57.302225°N 2.447087°W |
| Type | Tower house |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Clan Leslie |
| Site history | |
| Built | 15th century |
| Built by | Clan Leslie |
| Demolished | 1746 |
Balquhain Castle is an old, ruined tower house found in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was once the strong home of the Leslies of Balquhain, a powerful Scottish family. You can find the castle about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) west of Inverurie. Today, it is a special place protected as a scheduled monument because of its historical importance.
Contents
The Castle's Story: A Timeline
Balquhain Castle has a long and interesting past. It was first built in the 14th century, which means it's over 600 years old! The Leslie family owned this castle from the year 1340.
Building the Castle
In 1441, a man named John Leslie of Balquhain hired four skilled builders. Their names were David Hardgat, David Dun, Robert Masoun, and Gilbert Masoun. They worked together to finish building parts of the castle. Imagine the hard work it took to build such a strong stone structure back then!
Times of Trouble and Rebuilding
Life in Scotland was sometimes tough for noble families. In 1526, Balquhain Castle was attacked. This happened during a fight with another family called the Forbes family. The castle was badly damaged during this conflict.
But the Leslies didn't give up! They rebuilt their home in 1530, making it strong again.
A Royal Visitor
Years later, in 1562, a very famous person stayed at Balquhain Castle. This was Mary Queen of Scots! She visited the castle just before a big event called the Battle of Corrichie. It must have been exciting to have a queen stay in their home.
The End of an Era
Sadly, the castle's long history as a home came to an end in 1746. During a time of war, soldiers working for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland burned the castle. After this, Balquhain Castle was left empty and became a ruin.
What's Left of the Castle Today?
Even though it's a ruin, you can still see parts of Balquhain Castle. The main tower was quite large, measuring about 13.75 metres (45 feet) by 8.75 metres (28.7 feet). Around the tower, you can find the remains of a barmkin. A barmkin was a protective wall that surrounded the castle, keeping people and animals safe inside.
