Drumtochty Castle facts for kids
Drumtochty Castle is a beautiful old mansion in Scotland. It looks like a castle with its special "castellated" design, which means it has battlements like a real castle. This grand building was finished in 1812. You can find it about three kilometers northwest of Auchenblae in Kincardineshire, Scotland. It stands right on the edge of the large Drumtochty Forest.
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Building a Castle Home
The castle was designed by a famous architect named James Gillespie Graham. He created the original plans for the building. Later, around 1815, more parts were added to the castle. Even though Gillespie Graham designed these new sections, another architect, John Smith from Aberdeen, did the actual building work. Gillespie Graham also helped with more additions around 1839.
A Safe Place During World War II
During the Second World War, Drumtochty Castle played a very special role. The Norwegian government in exile bought the castle. This was the government of Norway that had to leave their country when Germany occupied it. They used Drumtochty Castle as a boarding school. It became a safe home and school for Norwegian children who had become refugees. These children had to leave their homes because of the war.
A School for Boys
After the war, on May 1, 1947, a couple named Robert and Elizabeth Langlands bought Drumtochty Castle. They opened a preparatory school for boys there. A preparatory school is a type of school that gets students ready for high school. Many boys studied and lived at the castle during these years. The school stayed open for many years, finally closing its doors in 1971.
Some people who later became well-known attended the school at Drumtochty Castle. These include:
- Elspeth Barker, a writer and journalist.
- Ross Leckie, another writer.
- David MacLennan, who was an actor, writer, and producer.
- Allan Massie, a novelist and sports writer.
- Douglas Young, a solicitor (which is a type of lawyer).
A Protected Building
Because of its unique history and design, Historic Scotland recognized Drumtochty Castle as a very important building. In August 1972, they added it to the list of "Category A listed buildings." This means the castle is a building of national importance and is protected to make sure it stays preserved for the future.
