Braikie Castle facts for kids
Braikie Castle is an old Scottish tower house built in the late 1500s. It stands between the towns of Arbroath and Brechin. You can find it east of the village of Friockheim in the area called Kinnell. Sometimes, people call it Brackie Castle or Brackoe Castle instead.
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Discovering Braikie Castle's Past
Who Built Braikie Castle?
A special stone carving above the main door shows the year 1581. This tells us the castle was built around that time. It was made for Thomas Fraser of Kinnell. This strong house was a good example of a fortified home for a local lord during that period.
A Stone of Love and Family
The 1581 date is part of a "marriage stone." This stone shows the family symbols, called crests, of the Frasers of Lovat and the Kinnaird family. It also has the initials "TF" and "CK." This likely stands for Thomas Fraser and a member of the Kinnaird family. Records show Thomas married Jane Kinnaird in 1602.
Who Owned Braikie Castle Through Time?
Over the years, Braikie Castle changed hands many times. By the mid-1600s, the Gray family owned it. After them, the Ogilvie family took over. In 1742, the castle passed to William Maule, who was an Earl of Panmure.
What Does Braikie Castle Look Like?
The Castle's Unique Shape
Braikie Castle is an L-shaped building with four main floors and an attic. An L-plan means it looks like the letter "L" from above. A spiral staircase is tucked into the corner where the two parts of the "L" meet. A tall chimney stands right next to the stairs.
Special Scottish Features
The castle has some cool Scottish design elements. It features small, round turrets called bartizans that stick out from the corners. These were often used for defense. The roofline has distinctive stepped gables, known as crow-stepped gables. These features make it look very Scottish. There's even a hidden basement that used to be a wine cellar!
Braikie Castle in Old Books
The castle was featured in a very important book about Scottish castles. This book was written by MacGibbon & Ross and published in 1892. In their book, they called it Brackie Castle.
The Castle Today
Sadly, around 1960, Braikie Castle lost its roof. It has been without a roof ever since.
