Braemar Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Braemar Castle |
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| Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | |
Braemar Castle
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 Braemar Castle
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| Coordinates | 57°00′53″N 3°23′29″W / 57.0147°N 3.3914°W |
| Site information | |
Braemar Castle is a famous castle located near the village of Braemar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It belongs to the chief of Clan Farquharson, a Scottish family. Today, a local charity looks after the castle, and it is open for everyone to visit and explore!
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A Look Back: Braemar Castle's History
Braemar Castle has a long and exciting past. It was first built in 1628 by John Erskine, the Earl of Mar. He built it as a hunting lodge and to protect his lands from the growing power of the Farquharson family. This new castle replaced an even older building.
The castle became very important after the 1745 Jacobite rising, a time when people fought over who should be king of Scotland. Before this, in 1689, a man known as the Black Colonel of Inverey attacked and burned the castle. He did this to stop government soldiers from using it.
After the 1715 Jacobite uprising, the castle was taken by the Crown. Later, John Farquharson, 9th Laird of Invercauld, bought the castle and its lands. However, the building was left in ruins for many years.
Rebuilding and Royal Visits
In 1748, the government leased the castle to use it as a garrison for their troops. Rebuilding work began under the direction of John Adam.
By 1831, the soldiers left, and the castle was returned to the Farquharson clan. They started to restore it to make it a family home. The 12th Laird of Invercauld even hosted Queen Victoria at the castle when she attended the famous Braemar Gatherings nearby.
Braemar Castle Today
Since 2006, the local community has taken over the castle. A local charity, Braemar Community Ltd, runs it with the help of many volunteers. They have started a big project to restore the castle, and it reopened to the public in 2008. It's a great example of how a community can work together to save a piece of history!
Exploring Braemar Castle's Design
Braemar Castle has a unique and strong design. It is a five-storey L-plan castle, which means it's shaped like the letter 'L'. It also has a star-shaped outer wall with six sharp points.
The castle is built from strong granite stone. The main entrance still has its original iron gate, called a yett, and many windows are protected by heavy iron bars.
Inside the Castle
On the ground floor, you'll find rooms with stone ceilings. These rooms were once used as a guardroom, a place to store ammunition, and the original kitchen. There's even a dark hole in the floor of a passage, known as the Laird's Pit, which was used as a dungeon.
As you go up the castle, you'll find different rooms on each floor.
- On the first floor are the Dining Room and Morning Room.
- The next floor has the Laird's Day Room and the Rose Room. There's also a small bathroom that was added in 1901.
- The Drawing Room is also on this level. Here, you can still see graffiti carved into the window shutters by government soldiers! One message clearly says, "John Chestnut, Sergeant, 1797".
- On the third floor is the Four Poster Bedroom.
- The fourth floor has the Ladies Guest Bedroom, Gentlemans Guest Bedroom, and the Principal Bedroom. These rooms were used by the Farquharson family when they visited the castle in later years.
Images for kids
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A historic photograph of Braemar Castle.
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The dining room inside Braemar Castle.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Braemar para niños
