Castle of Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle of Park |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Type | Tower house |
| Town or city | Glenluce |
| Country | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 54°52′34″N 4°49′32″W / 54.8760°N 4.8255°W |
| Construction started | 1590 |
| Completed | Before 1599 |
The Castle of Park is an old stone house built like a tower. It was constructed in the 1500s. You can find it near Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. This special building is known as a "Category A listed building." This means it's very important and protected because of its history.
Contents
History of Castle of Park
Building a New Home
Building the Castle of Park started in 1590. It was built for a man named Thomas Hay and his wife, Jonet MakDouel. Thomas's father was a leader at the nearby Glenluce Abbey. The castle was finished quickly, by 1599.
Life at the Castle
The Hay family lived in the castle for a long time. In the 1700s, more parts were added to the building. But in 1875, Sir John Dalrymple-Hay sold the estate. After that, no one lived in the castle for many years.
New Owners and Changes
In 1830, the Cunningham family bought the Castle of Park. They later moved to a different house called Dunragit House. The Castle of Park was then used to house people who worked on the farm.
Spooky Stories
There's a spooky story about the Castle of Park! Some people say it's haunted by the ghost of a monk. The legend says the monk was murdered and walled up inside one of the rooms.
Saving the Castle
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works helped fix up the castle. They even removed the parts that were added in the 1700s. Later, in the 1980s, the Landmark Trust did more work to restore it. Today, the castle is kept in good shape by renting it out for holidays.
Other Names for the Castle
Over the years, the Castle of Park has been called by a few other names. Some people knew it as "Park Hay" or "The Park O' Luce." It was also called "Park Castle" or "Park House."
What Does Castle of Park Look Like?
Inside the Castle
The Castle of Park has four floors. The very bottom floor has three rooms with special curved ceilings. These rooms were used as kitchens and for storage. Above them is the main hall, which is quite large. It measures about 22 feet by 17 feet.
Upper Floors and Stairs
The third and fourth floors are divided into smaller rooms. A big spiral staircase is found in the part of the castle that sticks out towards the south. From this main staircase, another smaller spiral stair leads up to the roof. It also goes to a tiny room right above the main stairs.
Strong, But Not for Fighting
Even though the castle looks strong, it wasn't really built for fighting. Unlike much older castles, its walls have hidden staircases and handy storage spaces inside them. This made the castle more comfortable to live in, but less like a fortress.
