Garth Castle facts for kids
Garth Castle is a very old castle from the 1300s. It's a type of castle called a tower house and keep, found near Coshieville in Glen Lyon, Scotland. The castle has a long and interesting history. It is most famous for being linked to Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, who was known as the Wolf of Badenoch. He died there in 1396.
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History of Garth Castle
Garth Castle was built in 1384 by Alexander Stewart, the 1st Earl of Buchan. He was the fourth son of Robert II of Scotland and the grandson of Robert the Bruce, a famous Scottish king. For about 100 years, the people living in the castle were loyal to the Stewart kings.
The Castle Under Attack
In 1653, Scotland was going through a period of conflict. A group of soldiers loyal to the king, called Royalists, took over Garth Castle. The castle was then attacked by the forces of Oliver Cromwell, who was a powerful leader at the time. Cromwell's soldiers fired cannons at the castle. The Royalist soldiers inside soon gave up. The castle's drawbridge was destroyed, and its roof was burned. This caused the castle to become a ruin. It stayed that way for more than 300 years.
Bringing the Castle Back to Life
Even though it was a ruin, the castle's strong stone walls helped it survive. In 1880, a Scottish ship owner named Donald Currie bought the castle and its land. He started to fix parts of the castle, making it look like its original style.
Later, in the 1960s, a Mr. Fry, known for Fry's chocolate, bought Garth Castle. He wanted to restore it as a holiday home. Local architects from Aberfeldy worked on the castle. An English architect named Leonard Manasseh also helped to finish the project.
How Garth Castle Was Built
Garth Castle stands on a small, grassy hill. This hill is almost surrounded by two deep, fast-flowing streams. These streams join together just below the castle. They then flow through a beautiful, wooded valley before joining a larger stream called the Keltnie burn. The Keltnie burn then flows into the River Lyon.
The castle tower is square in shape. This style is sometimes called a donjon or a keep. Its walls are made from a mix of large, rough stones and cut stones. The walls are very thick, ranging from about 6 and a half feet to 12 feet wide. They rise up to a height of about 60 feet to the top of the castle walls.
