Closeburn Castle facts for kids
Closeburn Castle is a very old tower house in Scotland. It's probably from the 14th century, but it might be even older! This castle is special because it's one of the oldest homes in Scotland that people have lived in without stopping. You can find it about 1 kilometer east of the village of Closeburn, in a place called Dumfries and Galloway.
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Discovering Closeburn Castle's Past
The Kirkpatrick family got their land at Closeburn way back in 1232, thanks to King Alexander II. The tower house itself was likely built in the late 1300s. Some people think it could be as old as 1180 or as new as 1420.
Key Figures in the Castle's History
A famous Kirkpatrick, Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick, was with Robert the Bruce in 1306. He helped Robert the Bruce deal with a rival named John "the Red" Comyn. Later, Sir Roger's son, also named Roger, led soldiers to take back Caerlaverock and Dalswinton castles from the English in 1355.
Changes Over the Centuries
In 1685, the Kirkpatrick family was given a special honor called a baronetcy because they were loyal to King Charles I. In the 1600s, the Kirkpatricks moved out of the old castle. They built a new, fancy house nearby. But sadly, this new house burned down in 1748, and the castle got a little damaged too.
After the fire, the family fixed up the old castle and moved back in. The Kirkpatrick family eventually sold Closeburn Castle in 1783. Since then, it has had a few different owners. But it's still a home where people live today!
Exploring the Castle's Design
The original tower house was built on a raised piece of land that was once surrounded by a lake. This lake has since been drained. The castle was first protected by a wooden fence. Later, a stone wall called a "barmkin" was built around it. This barmkin was a defensive courtyard with round towers at its corners.
Inside the Tower House
The tower itself is about 14.5 meters long and 10.5 meters wide. It stands about 15 meters tall. Inside, the lowest level was a vaulted basement, which even had a prison! Above that, there was a large hall, also with a vaulted ceiling. The roof level had another vault, covering three more floors above. The main entrance on the first floor still has its original iron gate, called a "yett." This was a strong metal gate for protection.
Modern Additions and Renovations
The old barmkin wall was probably taken down to make space for the new house built in the 1600s. When the family moved back into the tower in the mid-1700s, they made some changes. They divided the upper rooms into smaller ones and made the windows bigger. This helped to make the castle more comfortable to live in. The decorative battlements on the roof were also added around this time.
More updates happened in the 1800s. A small, one-story addition was built on the southwest side. A red sandstone porch was also added to the north side after 1856. It's thought that a famous architect named David Bryce might have designed some of these later additions.
