Corgarff Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corgarff Castle
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| Aberdeenshire Near Corgarff in Scotland |
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Corgarff Castle viewed from the Lecht Road
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| Coordinates | 57°9′46″N 3°14′3″W / 57.16278°N 3.23417°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Historic Environment Scotland |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Restored |
| Site history | |
| Built | Mid-16th century Rebuilt in mid-18th century |
| Built by | Clan Forbes |
| In use | 16th Century-1831 |
| Events | Razed in 1571 by Adam Gordon |
| Official name | Corgarff Castle |
| Type | Secular: barracks; castle |
| Designated | 30 December 1936 |
| Reference no. | SM90080 |
Corgarff Castle is an old castle found in the beautiful countryside of Aberdeenshire, in north-east Scotland. It stands near the village of Corgarff, right by the Lecht road. This road crosses a mountain pass between Strathdon and Tomintoul. The castle has a long and exciting history, changing hands many times over the centuries.
Contents
A Look at Corgarff Castle's Past
Early Days and a Tragic Fire
Corgarff Castle was first built around 1530 by the Elphinstone family. They later rented it out to another powerful family, the Forbes of Towie. In 1571, a terrible event happened. An enemy, Adam Gordon of Auchindoun, attacked and burned the castle. Sadly, Margaret Campbell, Lady Forbes, her children, and 26 other people died in the fire. This sad story is even remembered in an old Scottish song called "Edom o Gordon".
Changing Owners and Rebellions
The castle continued to be a place of conflict. In May 1607, Alexander Forbes of Towie and his friends took the castle from Alexander, 4th Lord Elphinstone. They used tools like hammers to break down the gate. After taking over, they filled the castle with their own soldiers.
Later, in 1626, the Earl of Mar bought the castle. It was used by soldiers again in 1645 by the Marquis of Montrose. The castle was burned two more times, in 1689 and 1716. These fires were started by supporters of the Jacobites, who wanted to bring back the old royal family to the throne. The Forbes family got the castle back in 1745, but they lost it again because they supported the Jacobites.
Becoming a Military Barracks
In 1748, the British government bought Corgarff Castle. They rebuilt and made it bigger to use as a barracks for soldiers. A group of government troops lived there. The castle was important because it was on a military road that connected Braemar Castle to Fort George in Inverness.
Soldiers stayed at Corgarff Castle until 1831. After that, the castle tower was used to stop people from making illegal whisky in the area. The castle remained part of the Delnadamph estate, owned by the Stockdale family, until 1961. At that time, they gave the castle to the state, and it became cared for by the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society.
Corgarff Castle Today
Today, Corgarff Castle is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. It is open to visitors, so you can explore its history for yourself! The castle is also recognized as a scheduled monument, which means it's a very important historical site that is protected.
