Brunstane Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brunstane Castle |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Brunstane Castle
|
|
| Coordinates | 55°48′38″N 3°16′32″W / 55.8106°N 3.2755°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 16th century |
Brunstane Castle is an old, ruined castle in Scotland. It's also known as Brunston, Brunstain, or Brunstone Castle. This castle is a type of building called a tower house, which means it was built tall and strong. It was built way back in the 1500s! You can find it about 2 miles southwest of Penicuik, right by the North Esk in Midlothian. Don't mix it up with Brunstane House in Edinburgh, though – they are different places!
History of Brunstane Castle
Brunstane Castle first belonged to a powerful family known as the Crichtons. An important religious leader named George Wishart was once staying at the castle. He was a protestant reformer, which means he wanted to change some things about the church at that time. Sadly, he was arrested from the castle and taken to St Andrews, where he was killed for his beliefs. This happened while he was being looked after by Alexander Crichton of Brunstane.
In 1547, the castle was attacked and burned. People say that Lord Gray was responsible for this attack. Later, in 1632, a new owner came along. His name was John, Lord Maitland. He bought the castle and made it bigger by adding more parts to it.
What Brunstane Castle Looks Like
Brunstane Castle has two main floors and a small attic space at the top. It has a square tower where the stairs are, tucked into a corner of the building. This stair tower has a special top part that sticks out, supported by stone brackets.
If you look closely, you can see small openings under the windows. These were called gun-loops, and they were used to fire guns from inside the castle to protect it. In the basement, there's a very large fireplace in what used to be the kitchen. The main hall, where people would gather, was on the first floor.
Above the main door, there's a stone panel with a family crest or coat of arms carved into it. You can still see parts of the old courtyard around the castle. There's even a square tower in the courtyard that has the year 1568 carved on it. The courtyard also has a round-arched back gate, or "postern," in its east wall.
Today, Brunstane Castle is recognized as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's a very important historical site that is protected by law.
