Druminnor Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Druminnor castle |
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Druminnor Castle is an old castle built in the early 1400s. It's located about two miles east of Rhynie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This castle has a special "L" shape when you look at it from above.
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A Look Back in Time: Druminnor Castle's Story
Around the year 1271, King Alexander III of Scotland gave land in this area to a man named Duncan Forbes. People think there might have been an even older castle nearby.
The second Druminnor Castle is believed to have been the first Castle Forbes. Its original main tower, built in 1456, was taken down in the early 1800s. It was described as a square tower with a half-square section for the stairs.
The third castle, which is the one we see today, was built between 1440 and 1470. It was originally connected to the second tower.
The Gordon and Forbes Families' Rivalry
The Gordon and Forbes families had a long-standing rivalry. In 1571, a serious clash occurred in the castle's Great Hall, where twenty members of the Gordon family lost their lives. Later that year, a group from Clan Forbes was defeated by the Gordons at the Battle of Tillieangus. Their leader, Black Arthur Forbes, was killed. The remaining Forbes members were chased all the way to the gates of Druminnor Castle. This conflict started after the Master of Forbes ended his marriage to the Earl of Huntly's daughter.
In 1590, John, Master of Forbes, faced accusations of having a serious disagreement with his father, William, Lord Forbes, at Druminnor. His younger brothers brought their father's complaint to the Privy Council of Scotland, a powerful group of advisors to the king. John Forbes denied the accusations. The Council decided that Druminnor should be looked after by others until Lord Forbes could come to Edinburgh.
In May 1591, John Master of Forbes claimed his brothers had turned his father against him. He said that while Lord Forbes was sick in Dundee, his brothers had entered and taken things from Druminnor House. The younger Forbes brothers then got royal orders to support their control of Druminnor.
Changes to the Castle Over Time
The castle had some additions built between 1841 and 1843, designed by Archibald Simpson. However, these parts were later removed in the 20th century during a restoration led by Margaret Sempill-Forbes.
What Druminnor Castle Looks Like
Druminnor Castle has an "L" shape. It has a modern main door in the middle of its north side. The rooms underground, called basements, have arched ceilings. The main dining and gathering room, known as the Great Hall, is on the first floor.
The archway over the main door is quite special. It's made of five straight sections, which is thought to be unique in Scotland. There are also strong stone supports, called corbelling, that hold up the round staircase tower. This tower becomes square at the first floor to create a watch-room. The castle also has wide openings for guns, called gun-loops. The walls become thinner at the first floor level.
Above the main door, there are three stone panels with family symbols, known as armorial panels. The south side of the castle is four stories tall because the ground slopes downwards there.
A wing that was added in 1815, which has now been taken down, had pointed roofs and decorative window tops.
Today, Druminnor Castle is a "Category A listed building." This means it's considered a very important historical building in Scotland.
