Craigievar Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craigievar Castle |
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Craigievar Castle is a beautiful pink castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is about 6 miles (10 km) south of Alford. This amazing building is covered in a special pink plaster called harl. It was once the home of the Sempill family and later the Forbes family. The Forbes family lived here for 350 years! In 1963, the castle was given to the National Trust for Scotland, which now looks after it.
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History of Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle is a great example of the old Scottish Baronial way of building. This means it looks like a strong, grand house with towers and fancy details. The castle has seven floors and was finished in 1626.
Who Built Craigievar Castle?
A rich merchant from Aberdeen named William Forbes completed the castle. He bought the castle in 1610 when it was only partly built. The Mortimer family, who owned it before, did not have enough money to finish it. William Forbes made sure the building was completed by 1626.
William Forbes was known as "Danzig Willy." This nickname came from his clever trading business with countries around the Baltic states. He made a lot of money by selling goods in a city called Dantzick (now Gdańsk).
The Forbes Family at Craigievar
William Forbes's son became a Baronet, a special title given by the King. The Forbes family continued to live at Craigievar for many generations. They were important people in the area. The Forbes family was also good friends with the Burnett family, who built other famous castles nearby like Crathes Castle and Muchalls Castle.
Castle Design and Features
Craigievar Castle is built in an "L-plan" shape. This means the building looks like the letter 'L' from above. It is famous for its beautiful plasterwork ceilings. These ceilings are considered some of the best in Scotland. They have detailed plaster figures, including the "Nine Worthies," who were famous heroes from history. You can also see symbols of the Forbes family on the ceilings.
Changes in the 1800s
By the early 1800s, parts of the castle were starting to fall apart. Sir John Forbes thought about tearing down the main tower. But an architect named John Smith told him not to. Smith said the tower was "one of the finest examples" of its style. So, Sir John decided to fix it instead.
Around 1826, the roof was repaired. The towers were also changed and made taller. A new main entrance door was put in, but later the original entrance was brought back. Almost the entire top floor was rebuilt too. The windows and the pink plaster on the outside were also replaced.
The castle used to have more defenses, like a walled courtyard with four round towers. Today, only one of these round towers remains. Inside its arched doorway, you can still see the carved initials of Sir Thomas Forbes, William Forbes's son. The main entrance also has a huge iron gate called a yett, which is like a strong portcullis.
Some people say that Craigievar Castle is haunted by ghosts!
Craigievar in the 1900s
For some years, the Forbes family lived in a larger house called Fintray House. This was especially true during the Second World War. During the war, Fintray House was used as a hospital for soldiers.
In 1963, the Forbes family gave Craigievar Castle to the National Trust for Scotland. This organization now takes care of the castle and opens it to visitors. Since 1990, the castle has been a "Listed building," which means it is protected for its historical importance.
In the late 1970s, the castle's inside was very impressive. It had a Great Hall with the Stuart family crest above the fireplace. There was also a special gallery for musicians and a secret staircase. The castle had a Queen's Bedroom and rooms for servants. Many old Forbes family portraits and furniture from the 1600s and 1700s were also inside. There were even two original paintings by a famous artist named Henry Raeburn.
Craigievar Castle Today
Recent Renovations
From 2007 to 2009, Craigievar Castle was closed for a big renovation. Workers gave the outside of the castle a new pink harl. This new plaster was made to look like the original pink color from the 1820s. The castle reopened to the public in April 2010.
The castle's upper floors have never had artificial lights. This means that visitors see the old furniture and art in the same natural light as people did hundreds of years ago.
The Castle Grounds
The gardens and grounds around Craigievar Castle mostly date from the late 1700s and early 1800s. More trees were planted in the late 1800s. In the 1930s, a rock garden was created. More recently, flower beds have been added around the castle and in the kitchen garden.
In 2019, something exciting happened! A volunteer found what seems to be the castle's original oak door. This door was replaced in 1825 and was thought to be lost. The old door was fixed up and is now on display.
Visiting Craigievar Castle
By 2013, the castle, its grounds, and over 200 acres (81 ha) of farmland had been with the National Trust for Scotland for 50 years. You can usually visit the castle from Easter until the end of September. In 2018, guided tours were offered from April to June. The grounds are open all year round. In 2019, over 24,000 people visited the castle.
In 2020, the castle was closed for a while because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. When it reopened in July, only the grounds could be visited for the rest of the year.
Craigievar Castle is known as one of the best examples of Scottish castles built in the "L-plan" style.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Craigievar para niños
