Blairfindy Castle facts for kids
Blairfindy Castle is an old stone building from the 1500s. It's a special type of castle called an "L-plan tower house" because it's shaped like the letter L. You can find it about 6.5 miles north of Tomintoul, near the River Livet. Long ago, powerful noblemen called the Earls of Huntly used it as a place to stay when they went hunting. Today, the castle is just ruins.
History of Blairfindy Castle
The first people to own the land where Blairfindy Castle stands were from a family called the Grants. However, the castle you see today was built by the Gordons, another important family. John Gordon finished building it in 1564.
Later, in 1586, the castle went to a different part of the Gordon family. This is when it became a hunting lodge for the Earls of Huntly.
Blairfindy Castle is also close to where a famous battle happened in 1594. This was the Battle of Glenlivet. In this battle, a smaller army led by the Earl of Huntly and the Earl of Erroll defeated a much larger Protestant army led by the Earl of Argyll.
What Blairfindy Castle Looks Like
Even though the castle is mostly shaped like an L, one part sticks out a little. This was to help defend both sides of the building. There was also a small, round turret (a mini-tower) built on stone supports called "corbels" on the other side.
The main entrance is an arched doorway located in the inner corner of the L-shape. Right above this doorway, there's a special stone part that sticks out. It has openings called "machicolations." These were holes that allowed defenders to drop things like stones or hot liquids on attackers below. There's also a small hole nearby for shooting.
Above the doorway, you can see a stone panel. It shows the "quartered arms" (a special design combining different family symbols) of the Gordons. It also has the date 1586 and the initials I.G. and H.G. A round stair tower rises above the doorway, leading up inside the castle.
Some people think that the machicolations on this castle were added to make it look more like a strong, war-ready fortress. But by the time it was built, it was mostly used as a home, not just for fighting.
Inside, the lowest floor is "vaulted," meaning it has a curved, arched ceiling made of stone. The kitchen was in the north part of this floor. It had an oven, a big fireplace, and a drain for water. There was also a wine cellar to the south, near the stairs that led up to the main hall.
The entire first floor was taken up by the Great Hall. This was clearly a fancy room. You can still see some of the wooden wall panels and a carved fireplace. The bedrooms were located on the floors above the hall.
The castle has many windows and small holes for shooting from, showing it was built for both living and defense.
Today, Blairfindy Castle is recognized as a "category B listed building," which means it's an important historical structure.
