Blervie Castle facts for kids
Blervie Castle is an old, ruined castle from the 16th century. It's located in Moray, Scotland, about 2.5 miles (4 km) southeast of Forres. People sometimes call it Blare, Blarvie, Blairvie, Blervie Tower, or Ulerin.
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A Look Back: Blervie Castle's History
Who Owned Blervie Castle?
The land where Blervie Castle stands was first owned by a powerful family called the Comyns. People believe there was a royal castle here as early as the 1200s! Records from that time, called the Exchequer Rolls, even mention repairs being made to the royal castle. This was because King Haakon IV of Norway was planning to invade Scotland in 1263.
Later, the land and castle passed to another family, the Dunbars. They built the castle we see today around the year 1600. After that, in the early 1700s, the Mackintoshes bought the castle. They eventually sold it to the Duffs of Braco, who were also known as the Earls Fife.
What Happened to the Castle?
Around 1776, parts of Blervie Castle were taken down. The stones were used to help build a nearby farm called Blervie Mains. This is why only a ruined part of the castle remains today.
Exploring Blervie Castle's Structure
Today, only one of the castle's tall, projecting towers is left, along with a small part of its main building. This tower is square and stands five storeys high. It has a round tower built into one of its corners, which would have held a spiral staircase.
If you look closely at the walls, you can still see special openings. These are called shot-holes and gun-loops, and they were used to fire weapons to defend the castle. The top of the tower has a parapet, which is a low wall, with open rounds (small turrets) that would have given defenders a good view.
The basement, the first floor, and the very top floor of the tower all have strong, arched ceilings called vaults.
