Boghall Castle facts for kids
Boghall Castle was a strong castle built in the 1300s. It stood south of Biggar, South Lanarkshire, in Scotland. This old castle eventually fell into ruins during the 1800s.
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What Was Boghall Castle?
Boghall Castle was a type of castle known as a courtyard castle. It was built in the 14th century by the powerful Fleming family. They built it to replace an older, simpler castle in Biggar. This older castle was a "motte and bailey" type, which means it had a raised earth mound (the motte) with a wooden tower and a fenced-in area (the bailey).
The Flemings chose a very smart spot for their new castle. It was located where the valleys of two important rivers, the River Tweed and the River Clyde, met. This made it a great place to control the surrounding land.
Today, most of the castle is in ruins. However, you can still see the foundations of two D-shaped towers. These show how strong the castle once was.
Famous Visitors and Key Events
Boghall Castle saw many important people and events throughout its history.
Early Royal Visits
- In 1310, Edward II of England stayed at Boghall Castle. This shows its importance even in those early days.
- Later, in 1473, Queen Margaret visited. She was the wife of James III of Scotland. She spent a night at Boghall on her journey to a holy place called the shrine of St. Ninian in Whithorn.
Mary, Queen of Scots and Conflict
- In 1565, Mary, Queen of Scots herself stayed at Boghall. This was a time of much political unrest in Scotland.
- Just a few years later, in 1568, Regent Moray arrived at Boghall with his army. He was ruling Scotland for the young King James VI. The castle surrendered to him on June 11.
- Regent Moray decided not to destroy the castle. This was because John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming, who owned Boghall, was holding Dumbarton Castle against him. Moray hoped to make a deal with Lord Fleming instead of fighting.
Life at the Castle
- In October 1578, a list of everything inside Boghall Castle was made. This happened after the death of Elizabeth Ross, Lady Fleming. She was the wife of John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming. These lists help historians understand what life was like in a castle during that time.
