Crail Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crail Castle |
|
|---|---|
Supposed location of Crail Castle
|
|
 Crail Castle
|
|
| Coordinates | 56°15′29″N 2°37′35″W / 56.258147°N 2.62626°W |
Crail Castle was once a castle found in the town of Crail, located in Fife, Scotland. Crail became a special town called a Royal Burgh in the 1100s. This meant it had certain rights and privileges given by the king.
What Was Crail Castle?
Crail Castle was an important building in its time. It was often visited by King David I of Scotland in the early 1100s. We know it was used because there's a record from 1264 about repairs being done to it.
Royal Connections
The castle also played a part in royal family history. A noblewoman named Ada de Warenne received Crail as part of her marriage agreement when she married Prince Henry of Scotland.
Later, King Robert I of Scotland, also known as Robert the Bruce, confirmed Crail's special status as a Royal Burgh in 1306. He also gave control of the castle to a person named Lawrence de Weirmerstoun in 1310.
Inside the castle, there was even a small church, called a chapel. This chapel was dedicated to an Irish saint named Saint Rufus.
What's Left of Crail Castle Today?
By 1563, the castle was already in ruins. A special document, called a charter, from Mary, Queen of Scots described it as mostly destroyed. All that was left was its moat, which is a ditch around a castle.
Mary, Queen of Scots, gave permission for David Spens of Wormistoun to rebuild the castle. However, it's not clear if he or his family ever did. An account from 1803 still mentioned "the ruins of a strong castle."
Today, there isn't much left to see of Crail Castle. The only visible part is a wall about 5.2 meters (17 feet) long. This wall is made of rough stone and mortar. You can find it in a place called Castle Garden.
