HM Prison Castle Huntly facts for kids

Castle Huntly is an old castle in Scotland. Today, it is used as a prison called HMP Castle Huntly. It is about 7 miles (11 km) west of Dundee. You can find it in an area called the Carse of Gowrie, in Perth and Kinross.

The castle is near the Firth of Tay, which is like a wide river mouth. You can even see it from the main road between Dundee and Perth. Castle Huntly sits on a rocky hill. This hill is surrounded by farms now. Long ago, this land was marshy and wild. The castle was likely built on the rock to help defend it.

The Castle's Long History

Building the Castle

Castle Huntly was built around the year 1452. It was built by Lord Gray of Fowlis. He got special permission from James II of Scotland, who was the king at the time.

Changing Owners and Names

The castle changed hands in 1614. The Earl of Strathmore bought it then. He decided to change its name to Castle Lyon. In the late 1600s, two women, Apollonia Kickius and Mrs Morris, worked as painters at Castle Lyon.

In the 1770s, the castle was sold again. The wife of the 7th Earl of Strathmore sold it to George Paterson. He worked for the East India Company. Mr. Paterson changed the castle's name back to Castle Huntly.

From Home to Prison

The Paterson family owned the castle until 1946. After Colonel Adrian Gordon Paterson passed away, his wife sold the castle to the government. In 1947, the castle was updated. It first became a special school for young offenders. Later, it became an open prison for adult men.

Today, it is known as HMP Castle Huntly. It is the only open prison in Scotland. Most people here are considered low-risk. They are usually serving shorter sentences, up to two years. Some people who have longer sentences also come here near the end of their time.