Barnes Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barnes castle |
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| East Lothian, Scotland | |
Remains of Barnes Castle
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 Barnes castle
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| Coordinates | 55°58′47″N 2°45′25″W / 55.979714°N 2.756959°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruin |
| Site history | |
| Built | 16th century |
Barnes Castle is an old, unfinished castle found in East Lothian, Scotland. It's about 5 kilometers (3 miles) northeast of Haddington. You can find it near Athelstaneford, on the side of the Garleton Hills. People sometimes call the remains of the castle "Barney Vaults" or "The Vaults." This historic site is protected as a special monument.
A Look Back at Barnes Castle's History
The land where Barnes Castle stands was given to Alexander de Seyton by King Robert the Bruce in 1321 or 1322. Later, in the late 1500s, the land belonged to Sir John Seton of Barnes. He was an important person who worked for King Philip II of Spain and later for King James VI of Scotland. Sir John was also in charge of the King's household money.
It seems that construction on the castle stopped when Sir John died in 1594. The property was sold out of the Seton family in 1713.
What Does Barnes Castle Look Like?
Barnes Castle is built from rough stones. It has a square shape, measuring about 50 meters (164 feet) by 38 meters (125 feet). There are square towers sticking out from each corner. More towers are found along the walls.
The main living area of the castle was in the northeast part. You can still see parts of the old living quarters. All the towers have special openings called gun loops. These were small holes for firing guns to protect the castle walls.
The main entrance was in the middle of the southwest wall. It led into a large open courtyard. The living area had a balanced design. A doorway led into a small entry room, which then opened into a long hallway. This hallway stretched across the building and led to rooms with arched ceilings.
One of these rooms, on the southeast side, had a large fireplace. This suggests it was likely the kitchen. Most of the castle's ground floor is still there. However, only some of the walls stand as high as 4 meters (14 feet).
Today, the castle is not used as a home. Instead, it helps local farmers by storing their equipment. Even though it was never finished, Barnes Castle was designed in a very modern and balanced way for its time.
