House of Schivas facts for kids

The House of Schivas is an old castle in Scotland. It is a special type of building called an L-plan tower house. This means it's a tall, strong house shaped like the letter "L." It was built a long time ago, in the 1500s! You can find it about three miles east of Methlick, near the River Ythan in Aberdeenshire.

History of Schivas Castle

Who Owned It?

The land where House of Schivas stands has a long history. In the 1300s, it belonged to a family called Schivas. Later, it passed to the Lipp family, and then to the Maitland family.

In 1467, George, Lord Gordon took over the land. But by 1509, Thomas Gray of Scheves lived there. Many people believe that the Gray family built the castle we see today.

Changes Over Time

By 1721, the Forbes family owned the castle. They made some changes inside the building. By the late 1800s, the castle was being used as a farmhouse.

Sadly, in 1900, the castle was badly damaged by a fire. But it was soon fixed up! In 1902, Sydney Mitchell restored it for Lord Aberdeen. Later, Thomas Catto, 1st Baron Catto had the castle decorated even more by an architect named J Fenton Wyness.

The first part of the castle was likely built around 1585 by Thomas Leper. The Forbes family added a new tower on the northeast side in about 1750. This tower was three stories tall. Then, in 1780, a new part was added to the west side of the main building.

What it Looks Like

House of Schivas is a very tall tower house. Today, a modern courtyard surrounds it, which is different from the original one.

A wide, round stair tower sticks out from the front of the main building. This tower helps people get to all the different floors. Another stair tower is found in the "re-entrant angle," which is the inner corner of the "L" shape. This second tower starts from the first floor. There is also a modern wooden turret in this corner.

Inside the Castle

The "wing" (one part of the "L" shape) is set a little to the east. This was probably done to better protect the main entrance. The main door has four groups of small holes around it, which were used for defense.

In the basement, you'll find the kitchen. The basement has a special arched ceiling called a "vaulted basement." From the kitchen, an arched hallway leads to two storage rooms.

The main hall inside the castle is covered with wood panels made from sequoia trees. It also has small cupboards called aumbries built into the walls. There's even a special toilet area called a garderobe. You can also find a small chapel area with a crucifix and the I.H.S symbol, which is a special sign for Jesus.

House of Schivas is considered a category B listed building. This means it is an important historical building that is protected.