Craiglockhart Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craiglockhart Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Edinburgh, Scotland | |
Craiglockhart Castle
|
|
 Craiglockhart Castle
|
|
| Coordinates | 55°55′10″N 3°14′18″W / 55.9193354°N 3.2383128°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 15th century |
Craiglockhart Castle is an old, ruined building in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a type of castle called a tower house, which was a strong home built for protection. Today, only parts of it remain, but it still tells a story of Scotland's past.
Contents
Craiglockhart Castle: A Ruined Tower
This historic tower house is located in the Craiglockhart area of Edinburgh. You can find it on the Craiglockhart Campus of Edinburgh Napier University. It sits just north of Wester Craiglockhart Hill.
Who Built Craiglockhart Castle?
Historians have different ideas about when Craiglockhart Castle was built. Some records from Historic Scotland suggest that the Lockharts of Lee family built the tower in the 15th century. This means it would be around 500 years old! However, other sources believe it might be even older. They say the Kincaid family could have built it as early as the 12th century. This would make it over 800 years old.
What Does the Castle Look Like Now?
When it was first built, Craiglockhart Castle was a tall building with four floors. Over time, parts of it have fallen down. Now, only the first floor and a small part of the second floor are left standing. The tower is about 8.7 meters long and 7.5 meters wide. Its walls are very thick, about 1.5 meters wide. These thick walls helped protect the people inside from attacks.
Protecting Old Buildings
Craiglockhart Castle is very important to Scotland's history. Because of this, it is officially protected as a scheduled monument. This means it is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building. The government makes sure that these special places are preserved for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
