Findlater Castle facts for kids
Findlater Castle is an old castle in Scotland. It sits on a tall cliff by the sea, about 50 feet (15 meters) high! The castle looks out over the Moray Firth, a part of the sea. It's located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, near a village called Sandend. The name "Findlater" comes from old Scottish words meaning "white cliff." This is because the cliffs around the castle have white rocks called quartz.
Contents
Discovering Findlater Castle's Past
The Castle's Beginnings
The first time we hear about Findlater Castle in history books is in 1246. In the 1260s, King Alexander III of Scotland had the castle repaired. He was getting ready for a possible attack from King Haakon IV of Norway. Interestingly, Vikings actually captured and held the castle for a while! The parts of the castle you can see today were rebuilt in the 1300s. It was designed to look a bit like another castle called Roslin Castle.
Royal Visits and Conflicts
A King's Stopover
In November 1535, King James V of Scotland visited Findlater Castle. He stopped there after a long journey to a holy place called Tain.
Mary, Queen of Scots and the Siege
Years later, in September 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots faced a challenge at Findlater Castle. A man named John Gordon of Findlater was holding the castle against her. He was the son of a powerful noble, the Earl of Huntly.
Mary sent an army with powerful cannons from Dunbar Castle to take the castle. When she was close by, she sent a messenger to tell the castle's captain to give it up. But the captain refused!
The story behind this conflict is a bit complicated. The previous owner of Findlater Castle, an Ogilvy, had lost his right to the castle. After his father died, his mother married John Gordon. John Gordon then took control of the castle and even put his new wife in prison!
In October, the Earl of Huntly sent Mary the keys to Findlater and Auchindoun Castle. But Mary was careful. She thought the messenger was not important enough, so she was suspicious.
Protecting History
Today, Findlater Castle is a very important historical site. It is officially recognized as a scheduled monument. This means it is protected by law to make sure it is preserved for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
