Bedlay Castle facts for kids

Bedlay Castle is an old castle in Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in the late 1500s and 1600s. You can find it near the towns of Chryston and Moodiesburn in North Lanarkshire. It's about 8 miles northeast of Glasgow. Today, people still live in this historic castle!

The Story of Bedlay Castle

The land where Bedlay Castle stands used to belong to the Bishops of Glasgow. A bishop is a high-ranking church leader. Kings David I and William I confirmed this ownership long ago. It is thought that a Bishop named Bishop Cameron might have had a house here.

In 1580, the land was given to Robert Boyd, 4th Lord Boyd. He was a nobleman from Kilmarnock. Soon after, Lord Boyd built the first Bedlay Castle. He chose a good spot on a rocky hill above a stream called the Bothlyn Burn.

The Boyd family owned the castle until 1642. Then, James Roberton, a lawyer, bought it. His family, the Robertons, made the castle bigger. They owned Bedlay until 1786. Since then, many different families have lived in the castle. One family, the Campbells of Petershill, even built a special burial place for their family on the castle grounds. Bedlay Castle is still a private home today.

Exploring Bedlay Castle

Floor plan of Bedlay Castle showing when parts were built.

Bedlay Castle was built in a great defensive spot. Water on three sides helped protect it. The only easy way to get to it was from the south.

The Original Tower House

The first part of the castle was built around 1580. It was a simple building called a tower house. A tower house was a tall, strong building where people lived and could defend themselves. This tower house had two main floors and an attic. It was about 13 by 7.5 meters in size. A square stair tower stuck out from one corner. On the ground floor, there were two rooms with arched stone ceilings, used for storage. Above them was the main hall. Later, the stair tower was made taller with an extra floor.

Later Additions and Changes

The castle was made much bigger in the late 1600s. A large new section was added to the west side. This new part was as tall as the original tower. It had one room on each floor. Round towers were added to both western corners of this new section. Because this part was built on lower ground, it had an extra floor below the main level. It even had a secret room hidden under one of the towers!

In the 1700s, a two-story building was added to connect parts on the north side. The castle also got some modern updates. Large windows were put in, and the main hall was divided into two rooms. Some garden decorations, like stone fences and gate posts, were brought to Bedlay by the Campbells. They came from their old home at Petershill, which is no longer there.

Haunted Tales of Bedlay Castle

Some people say that Bedlay Castle is haunted! The "ghost" of a tall man with a beard has been seen there. People believe this might be Bishop Cameron, who was mentioned in the castle's history.

Sometimes, people have also heard the sounds of a horse and carriage. These sounds come from the old lane next to the castle, which used to be a coach road. The Campbell family's old burial building was also said to be haunted. However, that building was moved to a nearby cemetery.