Floors Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Floors Castle |
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| General information | |
| Type | Estate house |
| Location | Kelso, Scottish Borders, Scotland |
| Current tenants | Dukes of Roxburghe |
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| Built | 18th century |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Designated | 16 March 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB10480 |
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Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
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| Designated | 1 July 1987 Amended 20 June 2011 |
| Reference no. | GDL00181 |
Floors Castle is a grand estate house in Roxburghshire, south-east Scotland. It's the home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his family. Even though it's called a 'castle,' it's actually a large country home, not a strong fortress.
A famous architect named William Adam built it in the 1720s for Duke John. It might even include parts of an older tower. Later, in the 1800s, another architect, William Playfair, added cool turrets and battlements. This made it look more like a castle for the 6th Duke of Roxburghe.
Floors Castle sits by the River Tweed and looks out over the Cheviot Hills. Today, it's a very important historic building. Its beautiful gardens are also officially recognized. You can even visit Floors Castle yourself!
Contents
History of Floors Castle
Who Lived Here?
The Ker family, who became Earls and Dukes of Roxburghe, have owned land in Roxburghshire since the 1100s. They probably came from Normandy, a region in France. In 1812, when Sir James Innes became Duke, the family started using the name "Innes-Ker."
The name "Floors" might come from the word "flowers" (or fleurs in French). It could also come from the "floors," or flat terraces, where the castle is built.
Older Buildings on the Site
The current Floors Castle isn't built for defense. But there might have been an older, stronger building here before. This would have been a "tower house" or "pele tower." These were common in the Scottish Borders area.
For a long time, the borderlands between Scotland and England were dangerous. Groups called "Reivers" often carried out raids, stealing cattle and causing trouble. Floors Castle also stands across from Roxburgh Castle. This was an important medieval fortress where King James II was killed during a battle in 1460.
The land where Floors Castle stands used to belong to the monks of Kelso Abbey. After the Scottish Reformation, King James VI gave the land to Robert Ker of Cessford. He later became the first Earl of Roxburghe.
Building the Country House
John, Earl of Roxburghe, born in 1680, helped bring England and Scotland together. This happened with the Acts of Union in 1707. Because of his efforts, he was made the first Duke of Roxburghe.
He hired a famous Scottish architect, William Adam, to design a new mansion. William Adam was the father of another well-known architect, Robert Adam. The new house was built between 1721 and 1726. It was a simple building with towers at each corner. Separate buildings on the sides held the stables and kitchens.
Around 1837, the 6th Duke of Roxburghe wanted to update the house. He asked a popular architect, William Henry Playfair, to redesign it. Playfair added the turrets and battlements you see today. His work made the house look much grander.
In 1903, Duke Henry married an American heiress named Mary Goelet. She brought beautiful tapestries from her home in Long Island. These were put in the ballroom in the 1930s. She also added modern paintings by artists like Walter Sickert and Henri Matisse to the castle's collection.
