Castle Grant facts for kids
Castle Grant is an old castle in the Scottish Highlands. It stands near Grantown-on-Spey in Scotland. This castle was once the main home for the chiefs of Clan Grant. It was first called Freuchie Castle. But its name changed to Castle Grant in 1694. Today, it is a very important historic building. Its beautiful gardens are also protected.
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Exploring Castle Grant's Past
Early History of the Castle
Castle Grant is a special kind of castle. It is called a Z-plan tower house. This means it has a main tower with two smaller towers sticking out. The castle was built a very long time ago. It dates back to the 1400s.
The land where the castle stands belonged to the Clan Comyn. But in the 1400s, it became the property of the Grant family. Castle Grant then became their main strong home. It was a safe place for them.
The castle was first known as Freuchie Castle. An early owner, James Grant of Freuchie, supported James V of Scotland. He was the King of Scotland at that time.
Changes Over the Centuries
Even though the Grant family were Protestants, they joined a famous leader. This leader was James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. He fought in the Scottish Civil War in the 1640s.
The castle's name changed in 1694. It went from Freuchie Castle to Castle Grant. This happened when the lands around it became a special area. This area was called the regality of Grant.
Ludovick Grant was the eighth laird, or owner, of the castle. He supported the Hanoverian family. They were against the Stewarts, who also wanted to rule. Ludovick fought in two big wars. These were the Jacobite rising of 1715 and the Jacobite rising of 1745. During these wars, the Jacobites took over Castle Grant.
A famous Scottish poet visited the castle in 1787. His name was Robert Burns.
Castle Grant in Recent Times
The castle needed some work in the early 1900s. So, it was fixed up by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1912.
Later, the castle became empty and started to fall apart. But it was fixed again in the 1990s. In 2006, a businessman bought the castle. It was later sold again in 2014.
The Castle's Ghost Story
Some people say Castle Grant has a ghost. It is believed to be the ghost of Lady Barbara Grant. She was the daughter of a castle owner from the 1500s.
Her ghost is said to be small and sad. She is not scary at all. The story says she fell in love with someone her family did not approve of. Because of this, she was locked away in a dark room. She is said to have died of a broken heart.
