Glamis Castle facts for kids
Glamis Castle is a very famous castle located near the village of Glamis in Angus, Scotland. It is the family home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Glamis Castle was the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who later became known as the Queen Mother. Her daughter, Princess Margaret, was also born there. You can even see a picture of the castle on the Royal Bank of Scotland ten pound note!
Parts of the castle and its beautiful gardens are open for people to visit. There is also a tea room where visitors can enjoy a snack. Glamis Castle is known for its many famous stories and legends. Some people say it has more mysterious tales than any other home in Scotland!
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Where is Glamis Castle?
Glamis Castle is located in a wide valley called Strathmore. This area is close to Forfar, which is the main town in Angus. The castle sits between the Sidlaw Hills to the south and the Grampian Mountains to the north. It is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the North Sea.
The land around the castle, called the estate, is very large. It covers more than 14,000 acres (about 57 square kilometers). On the estate, you can find lovely gardens and walking paths. There is also a farm that raises beef cattle and a plantation (a planted forest) that grows timber. Two streams flow through the estate. Near one stream, called the Glamis Burn, there is an arboretum. An arboretum is like a special garden for trees, with trees from all over the world. Many of these trees are rare and hundreds of years old. You might even spot birds and other small wildlife while exploring the grounds!
History and Mysterious Tales
People have lived in the area around Glamis Castle since prehistoric times. Sometimes, signs of these ancient people are still found today. A stone with beautiful carvings, known as the Eassie Stone, was found nearby. It is thought to be from around 600 AD.
Many people believe that in 1034, Malcolm II of Scotland was murdered at Glamis. The official website of Glamis Castle says that King Malcolm II was hurt in a battle and taken to a Royal Hunting Lodge, where he later died. The castle was then built where this Hunting Lodge once stood. Since 1372, Glamis Castle has been the home of the Lords of Glamis.
The Monster of Glamis
One of the most famous legends is about the Monster of Glamis. This story tells of a very ugly child with a disability who was supposedly kept hidden in the castle his entire life. It is said that his rooms were sealed up with bricks after he died. Another version of the legend suggests that a vampire child is born into the family in every generation, and these children are walled up in a secret room.
The legend of the monster might have come from a true story about the Ogilvie family. The Ogilvies hid at Glamis Castle to escape their enemies, the Lindsays. But they were found and trapped in a small room within the castle's thick walls (which are 16 feet thick!). The door was then bricked up, and the family was left to die of starvation.
There is a story that some visitors to the castle once tried to find these hidden rooms. They hung towels from the windows of every room they could find. Then they went outside and looked up. They saw some windows that had no towels, and they thought these must belong to the secret rooms!
The Grey Lady
There is a small chapel inside the castle that can seat 46 people. One seat in the chapel is always left empty for a ghost known as the "Grey Lady". Many believe the "Grey Lady" is Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis. No one is allowed to sit in her seat.
Earl Beardie and the Devil
Another legend tells the tale of Earl Beardie, who supposedly played cards with the Devil. Earl Beardie was a guest at Glamis Castle. One Sunday night, he wanted to play cards, but no one else would play because it was a holy day. Earl Beardie became so angry that he declared he would play with the Devil himself! Soon after, a stranger knocked at the castle door and asked if Lord Beardie would play cards with him. They began to play in one of the rooms.
Later, the servants heard loud yelling and swearing coming from the room. One servant peeked through the keyhole, but a flash of light from the keyhole blinded him. The stranger had disappeared, and he had taken the Earl's soul with him. Many people say they have heard shouting and the sound of dice rolling, believing that the Earl is still playing cards with the Devil!
Glamis in Stories and Books
- In William Shakespeare's famous play Macbeth, the character Macbeth murders King Duncan at Glamis Castle. However, the real historical ruler Macbeth of Scotland did not actually live at Glamis Castle.
- Glamis Castle is also featured in Kelley Armstrong's fantasy novel Haunted.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A lithograph of Glamis Castle, created between 1847 and 1854
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Lion sculptures of The Great Sundial on the front lawn
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Rosa 'Glamis Castle', a rose was named after Glamis Castle by the English rosegrower David Austin
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Sitting room or family room at Glamis.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Glamis para niños
