Drochil Castle facts for kids
Drochil Castle is a fascinating ruined castle located in the beautiful Scottish Borders. It sits high above the Lyne Water, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north-west of Peebles. You can also find it about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of West Linton. This historic site tells a story of ambition and unfinished dreams from long ago.
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Building Drochil Castle
The construction of Drochil Castle began in 1578. It was started by James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton. He was a very important person in Scotland at the time. He served as the Regent of Scotland, which meant he ruled the country for young King James VI.
Earl Morton planned for Drochil Castle to be his grand retirement home. He wanted a place where he could relax away from his busy life. Sadly, he died just three years after starting the castle. Because of this, Drochil Castle was never fully completed. It remained only half-built, a testament to his grand vision.
Castle Design and Features
Drochil Castle was designed to be both a strong fortress and a comfortable home. It had four main floors, plus an attic space called a garret. This made it feel more like a palace than a typical castle.
One special feature of the castle is its unique layout. It has a wide central hallway that runs through the entire building on every floor. From this hallway, you could enter different sets of rooms, like separate apartments.
Defensive Towers and Great Hall
The castle also features two round towers. Each tower is about 25 feet (7.6 meters) wide. They are placed at opposite corners of the castle. These towers were important for defense. Each one had two small openings called gunloops. These allowed defenders to fire at enemies trying to get close to the walls.
Inside, the castle had a very large main room on the first floor. This "great hall" measured about 50 feet (15 meters) long and 22 feet (6.7 meters) wide. It would have been used for important meetings and gatherings.
Ownership and Current State
In 1686, Drochil Castle was bought by William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry. Today, the ruins are still owned by his family, the Duke of Buccleuch.
The outer walls of the castle are made from a type of stone called whinstone rubble. This stone was taken from a nearby place called Broomlee Hill. Red sandstone was used for the decorative parts. In the early 1800s, some of the castle's stones were even used to build a farm next door.
Today, Drochil Castle is a protected site. It is recognized as a scheduled ancient monument. This means it is an important historical ruin that is preserved for future generations.
