Erchless Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erchless Castle |
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| Struy, Highland | |
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Erchless Castle
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 Erchless Castle
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| Coordinates | 57°25′47″N 4°38′57″W / 57.4297°N 4.6493°W |
| Type | L-plan tower house |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Erik Maurice Robson |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century/ c. 1600 |
| Built by | Clan Bissett |
Erchless Castle is an old and interesting castle in northern Scotland. It is located near a small place called Struy in the Highlands. The castle sits where the Erchless Burn stream meets the River Beauly. This river is formed by the Glass and Farrar rivers. The main building you see today was built around the year 1600.
Erchless Castle: A Historic Scottish Home
Erchless Castle is known as an L-plan castle. This means it is shaped like the letter 'L' when you look at it from above. It is a type of building called a tower house. These were strong homes built for protection a long time ago.
Who Lived Here? A Look at its Past
The very first building on this spot was built in the 1200s. The Bissetts family were the first builders.
Later, in the 1400s, the castle came into the hands of the Chisholms. This happened when Alexander de Chisholme married Margaret, who was the Lady of Erchless. The castle then became the main home for the Chisholm family for many years.
The castle was changed and added to over time. Around 1600, the current L-plan tower house was built. In the 1800s, more changes were made. A new part was added in 1895 in a style called Scottish Baronial. This style makes buildings look like old Scottish castles. Today, Erchless Castle is a protected building. It is called a Category B listed building. This means it is an important historical site.
Erchless Castle in the 1900s
After the last direct family member of the Chisholms passed away, the castle and its land were looked after by trustees. These were people who managed the property for the family.
In 1937, the Chisholm Estate was sold. This included Erchless Castle and its forests. The new owner was a company called Highland Estates Ltd.
Later, in 1946, Baron Siegfried Nikolai von Stackelberg and his wife, Baroness Phyllis von Stackelberg, bought the castle and estate. They used money from Phyllis's father, George Roscoe. The estate stayed with George Roscoe's trustees until the early 1960s.
Then, the family of Sir Lawrence Robson became the new owners. Sir Lawrence Robson was famous for starting an accounting company. After Sir Lawrence Robson passed away in 1982, his son, Erik Maurice William Robson, inherited the castle. The castle is still owned by the Robson family today.
