Dairsie Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dairsie Castle |
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| Dairsie, Fife, Scotland GB |
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Dairsie Castle
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| Coordinates | 56°19′59″N 2°57′00″W / 56.33306°N 2.95000°W |
| Type | Z-plan tower house |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Site history | |
| Built | First castle c.1300 Rebuilt 16th century Rebuilt from ruin in the 1990s |
| Built by | Bishops of St Andrews |
Dairsie Castle is a historic tower house in north-east Fife, Scotland. It stands about 1.3 kilometers south of the village of Dairsie. The castle offers a great view of the River Eden nearby. It's a place with a long and interesting past!
Contents
Dairsie Castle: A Scottish Stronghold
Early Days and Important Visitors
The very first castle here was built around the year 1300. It belonged to the bishops of St Andrews, who were important church leaders. One bishop, William de Lamberton, might have been the one who built it.
Dairsie Castle was once a very important meeting place. In early 1335, the Parliament of Scotland met there. This was a big event where important decisions for the country were made.
The castle was rebuilt in the 1500s by the Learmonth family. Later, in 1575, James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, attacked the castle. He was the regent of Scotland at the time. A regent is someone who rules a country when the king or queen is too young.
A famous visitor to Dairsie Castle was King James VI of Scotland. He stayed there in 1583. This was after he had escaped from a difficult situation called the Raid of Ruthven.
A New Owner and a Church
In the 1600s, the castle was sold to John Spottiswoode. He was the Archbishop of St Andrews. An archbishop is a very high-ranking church official. John Spottiswoode built a church right next to the castle in 1621. This church is called Dairsie Old Church.
From Ruin to Holiday Home
Over time, Dairsie Castle fell into disrepair. By the 1800s, it was mostly a ruin. But in the 1990s, something amazing happened! The castle was completely rebuilt and restored.
Today, Dairsie Castle is no longer a ruin. It is now used as a special place for holidays. People can rent it and stay there, experiencing a piece of Scottish history. The castle is also recognized as a Category B listed building. This means it's an important historical building that is protected.
