Fa'side Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fa'side Castle |
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Fa'side Castle, East Lothian
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| Coordinates | 55°55′40″N 2°59′51″W / 55.9279°N 2.9975°W |
Fa'side Castle, also known as Fawside, is an old castle from the 1400s. It is located in East Lothian, Scotland. The castle is about 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Tranent. It is also about 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Musselburgh. This historic building was fixed up in the 1980s. Today, it is a protected listed building, which means it's important to keep it safe.
Contents
History of Fa'side Castle
Early Days and Owners
The story of Fa'side Castle began a very long time ago, around 1189. At that time, monks from Newbattle Abbey gave land to a person named Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester. He built the first castle on this spot.
Later, in 1288, the castle was owned by Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby. He was the son-in-law of Roger de Quincy, 2nd Earl of Winchester. During this time, a knight named Sir William Douglas attacked the castle.
The De Quincy family supported King Edward I of England. Because of this, Robert the Bruce, the King of Scotland, took the land from them. Bruce then gave the land to the Seton family.
In 1371, a family called the Fawsydes bought land in the area from the Setons. The oldest part of the castle you see today was built by the Fawsydes in the 1400s.
Fires, Battles, and Royalty
Fa'side Castle has seen many important events. In 1547, before the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, English soldiers burned the castle. Sadly, everyone inside either suffocated or burned to death. The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh was fought very close to the castle on September 10, 1547.
A famous queen, Mary, Queen of Scots, was at Fa'side Castle. On the morning of June 15, 1567, she left the castle to go to the Battle of Carberry Hill. Before she left, she changed into a shorter skirt. She even left some of her fancy clothes behind in a chest!
Rebuilding and Later Years
After the fire, the castle was rebuilt and made bigger in the late 1500s. More rooms were added to the south side.
In 1620, some local landowners met at the castle for dinner with Janet Lawson, Lady Fawside. They illegally agreed to raise the price of coal from their mines. The Privy Council of Scotland found out and said their actions were against the law. The landowners had to pay a big fine and were put in Edinburgh Castle. They tried to defend themselves by saying their coal mines weren't making money.
In 1631, the Fawsydes sold the castle to a businessman from Edinburgh named Hamilton. Over time, the castle fell into ruin. By the 1800s, it was mostly a wreck. In the 1970s, it was almost completely torn down.
Saving Fa'side Castle
Luckily, the castle was bought by Thomas Moodie Craig. A famous author and historian named Nigel Tranter helped save the castle. He started the Fa'side Restoration Society in 1970. He introduced Craig to the castle in 1975.
After looking into its history, they found out the castle's original name was Fawside Castle. The work to fix up the castle began in 1976 and finished in 1982.
Today, Fa'side Castle is still privately owned. The Faside Estate also has a horse farm and a bed and breakfast. The main castle building has five bedrooms. Visitors can stay in a tower or two cottages on the estate.
What Fa'side Castle Looks Like
Fa'side Castle is a large building, about 7,411 square feet (688.5 square meters) in size. It has an "L" shape. The oldest part is a four-story tower from the 1400s. Later, a block with small towers was added. The castle also has a basement with a vaulted ceiling.
The castle stands on a high ridge. This means it has amazing views! From the castle, you can see far across East Lothian and the Firth of Forth.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Fa'side para niños
Images for kids
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A view of Fa'side Castle from the outside.
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Another angle of the historic Fa'side Castle.
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A closer look at the castle's stone walls.
