Hatton Castle, Aberdeenshire facts for kids
Hatton Castle is a super cool old building located in the north-east of Scotland. It is about 3 miles (5 km) south-east of a town called Turriff in Aberdeenshire.
This amazing place was once known as Balquholly Castle. It got its new name, Hatton Castle, in 1814. The huge house is about 17,994 square feet (1,672 square meters) in size. It was named a special "Category A listed building" in 1972. This means it is a very important historical building. Even its beautiful gardens are famous in Scotland!
A Look Back in Time: History
The story of Hatton Castle begins a long time ago. In the early 1300s, Robert the Bruce, a famous Scottish king, gave this land to a person named Patrick de Monte Alto. The family name "Mowat" comes from "de Monte Alto."
The area was first called Loscraigie. But by the 1500s, it was known as Balquholly. Records show there was a castle here in the early 1500s. It might even be much older than that!
In 1709, Alexander Duff of Hatton bought the land. His family has owned Hatton Castle ever since, right up to today.
Exploring the Castle: Inside and Out
The castle you see today was built between 1812 and 1814. This is when its name changed to Hatton Castle. It is a very strong building made of stone.
The castle has a round tower at each of its four corners. It even includes parts of the much older castle! Hatton Castle has three main floors, plus a basement and an attic.
Special Features of the Castle
In the basement, you can find a wine cellar and a special room for guns. The main hall on the ground floor is very grand. It has a glass dome, called a cupola, above a stone staircase. This staircase leads up to the first floor.
The first floor has two bedrooms. The second floor has seven more bedrooms. Up in the attic, there are four extra bedrooms, a bathroom, and storage space.
The Scottish government group, Historic Scotland, officially named Hatton Castle a "Category A listed building" in 1972. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in Scotland. The castle's gardens are also very special. They are recognized for their amazing history and design.
