Carlowrie Castle facts for kids
Carlowrie Castle is a beautiful old building in Scotland. It was built between 1852 and 1855 near Kirkliston, which is about 10 miles from Edinburgh. The castle was designed in a special style called Scottish Baronial. For a long time, only two families have owned Carlowrie Castle: the Hutchison family, who built it, and the Marshall family, who bought it much later.
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Who Built Carlowrie Castle?
The castle was designed by a famous Scottish architect named David Rhind. He was known for designing big buildings like banks and public spaces. It's quite special that he designed Carlowrie Castle, as he didn't often work on homes. This makes the castle a rare example of his work. In 1873, Rhind also designed other buildings on the estate, like outhouses and a gate lodge. The castle sits on a large 32-acre estate, which even has its own deer!
The Hutchison Family Story
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Thomas Hutchison, a successful wine merchant and a leader in Leith, wanted Carlowrie Castle to be his new family home. Sadly, he passed away in 1852 before it was finished. His son, Robert, took over and completed the castle. It cost a huge amount of money back then – £33,000!
The Hutchison family had a long history of successful trading in the port town of Leith. Robert Hutchison, who finished the castle, became an expert in trees and plants. He moved away from the wine business. Two of his sons became very important people:
- Sir Robert Hutchison was a respected doctor and president of the Royal College of Physicians.
- Sir Thomas Hutchison became the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, a bit like a mayor, from 1921 to 1923.
Robert's niece, Isobel Wylie Hutchison, also became famous. She was an explorer and botanist, meaning she studied plants.
Isobel Wylie Hutchison and the Castle
Isobel's father, Thomas Hutchison (Robert's younger brother), continued the family wine business. He spent time in India, where he made a lot of money. When he returned, he married and lived in another family home for a few years.
However, Robert Hutchison's lifestyle and studies had caused the family to get into debt. To help his family and save their home, Thomas paid off his brother's debts in 1888 and took over Carlowrie Castle. Isobel Wylie Hutchison was born there on May 30, 1889. Two more of her siblings were also born at the castle. This branch of the Hutchison family lived at Carlowrie until Isobel passed away in 1982, and the castle was sold.
Carlowrie Castle in the 20th Century
The 1900s were a challenging time for the castle and the Hutchison family. Thomas Hutchison died in 1900. His two sons also passed away young, one in World War One and the other in a climbing accident. These sad events deeply affected the family.
However, these changes also helped Isobel Wylie Hutchison pursue her amazing career. She gained the money to fund her expeditions and chose not to marry, which was unusual for women at that time. Isobel was awarded the Mungo Park Medal for her explorations and later became a Vice President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
During World War Two, Carlowrie Castle was used as a military base. By then, Isobel was earning her own money from the books she wrote and the talks she gave about her adventures. She also provided plant samples to museums and gardens.
Even with her many expeditions, Isobel lived at Carlowrie Castle and looked after its grounds for most of her life. She stayed there until she died in 1982 at 93 years old.
The Marshall Family Takes Over
After Isobel Wylie Hutchison's death, Carlowrie Castle was put up for sale. The Marshall family bought it, becoming only the second family to own this historic building.
