Breachacha Castle facts for kids
Breachacha Castle (also spelled Breacachadh) is actually two different buildings. Both are found on the shore of Loch Breachacha. This is on the island of Coll, which is part of the Inner Hebrides in Scotland.
The Old Breachacha Castle
The first castle is known as Old Breachacha Castle. It is a strong tower house built in the 1400s. This castle was the home and stronghold for the Macleans of Coll. The island of Coll was given to John Maclean in 1431.
Over time, a new house was built nearby in 1750. The old castle was still used for a while. But by the mid-1800s, it started to fall apart. In the 1930s, some work was done to stop it from getting worse. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that the castle was fully fixed up. Nicholas MacLean-Bristol and his wife Lavinia restored it so people could live there again. Today, it is a very important historical building, known as a Category A listed building.
For some time, an organization called the Project Trust used the old castle as their main base. They later moved to a new building built just for them in 1988. This new place is on the west side of the island.
The New Breachacha Castle
The second building is called the New Breachacha Castle or Breachacha House. It was built in the mid-1700s. You can find it about 140 metres (460 ft) northwest of the old castle. It is also a Category A listed building, meaning it's a very important historical site.
Famous visitors once stayed at the new castle. These included Samuel Johnson and James Boswell. They visited the castle during their famous trip around the Hebrides islands.
As of June 2017, the newer castle was for sale. It was listed as a property that needed a lot of repair work.
Images for kids
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The 15th-century Breacacha Castle
