Huntingtower Castle facts for kids
Huntingtower Castle, once known as Ruthven Castle, is a historic building in central Scotland. It's located near the village of Huntingtower, about 5 km northwest of Perth. This old castle is famous for its local ghostlore stories.
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Discovering Huntingtower's Past
Huntingtower Castle has a long history, dating back to at least the 14th century. It was one of the castles owned by the Lords of Badenoch. A famous figure named Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the "Wolf of Badenoch" because of his bad deeds, died here in 1394.
Later, in the 15th century, the Clan Ruthven family took over the castle. For hundreds of years, it was called the 'House of Ruthven' or 'Ruthven Castle'. However, the Ruthven family lost their castle and name in 1600. This happened after an event called the Gowrie Conspiracy. After this, the castle was officially renamed Huntingtower. The Ruthvens also had a large house in nearby Perth called Gowrie House.
Royal Visits to the Castle
Many important people visited Huntingtower Castle over the years. Mary, Queen of Scots came to the castle twice in 1565. Later, in 1575, Regent Morton was called to Huntingtower for a christening.
In the summer of 1582, the 4th Lord Ruthven, who was also the 1st Earl of Gowrie, lived at the castle. Lord Ruthven was involved in a plan to take the young King James VI as a prisoner. King James was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. On August 23, 1582, Lord Ruthven and his friends captured the young king. They held him for 10 months until he escaped on June 27, 1583. This event is known as the 'Raid of Ruthven'. The people behind it hoped to gain power by controlling the king.
King James eventually escaped and even forgave Lord Ruthven. However, after another attempt by Ruthven and others to challenge the king, Lord Ruthven was executed. His property, including Huntingtower, was taken by the crown.
The Castle After the Ruthvens
In May 1584, Dorothea Stewart, Countess of Gowrie, was ordered to give up several castles, including "Ruthven," to the crown. King James VI and his cousin Ludovic, Duke of Lennox stayed at the castle in September 1584. After about 10 days, news of a plague in nearby Perth made the king move to Tullibardine Castle. The rest of his royal staff stayed at Huntingtower for safety.
The Castle was given back to the Ruthven family in 1586. The king visited again for a week in September 1587. But in 1600, Lord Ruthven's brothers, John and Alexander Ruthven, were involved in another incident with King James. They were killed at Gowrie House in Perth. This time, the king was very strict. He took their lands and made it illegal to use the Ruthven name. By royal order, the castle was renamed Huntingtower.
David Murray, 1st Viscount of Stormont became the castle's keeper. King James VI stayed in April 1601 and even wrote "Huntingtower" on his letters. In 1605, the Privy Council heard that parts of Huntingtower had been damaged. King James ordered repairs in 1623, but there is no record of them happening that year.
The Castle stayed with the crown until 1643. Then, it was given to the Murray family of Tullibardine. John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl lived in the Castle. However, the castle slowly became neglected after his wife, Lady Mary Ross, died in 1767. It was no longer used as a home, except by farm workers. The last family to live in the castle were the Cowans, who left in late 2002.
Today, the public can visit Huntingtower Castle. It is sometimes used for weddings. Historic Scotland now looks after the castle.
Castle Design and Art
The original part of Huntingtower, now called the 'Eastern Tower', was built as a gatehouse. It has three floors and an attic. Around the late 15th century, a second tower, the 'Western Tower', was built next to it. There was a gap of about 3 meters between the two towers. They were connected by a wooden bridge. This design was for defense. If one tower was attacked, people could escape to the other and pull up the bridge. In the late 17th century, the space between the towers was filled in, creating the castle we see today. More windows were also added, especially in the Western Tower.
A large hall was built on the north side of the Western Tower in the 16th century. However, only a mark on the tower wall shows where its roof used to be. The defensive walls that once surrounded the castle are also gone.
Painted Ceilings
One of the most interesting features at Huntingtower is the old paintings. These were found on the first floor of the Eastern Tower. Some wall paintings show flowers, animals, and Bible scenes. There is also a beautiful painted wooden ceiling. The designs include strange animals, like a version of the green man, on the main beams. There are also Renaissance-style patterns on the planks. This painted ceiling is thought to be the oldest of its kind still mostly intact in Scotland. Small pieces of wall paintings can also be seen in the Western Tower.
Ghost Stories and Legends
Huntingtower Castle is said to be haunted by "Lady Greensleeves." She was a young woman named Dorothea, the daughter of the 1st Earl of Gowrie. The story says she was in love with a servant at the castle. They would meet secretly at night in the eastern tower, where the servants slept. One night, Dorothea's mother, the Countess, found out. She started to cross the bridge from her family's rooms in the western tower to catch them.
Dorothea heard her mother's footsteps. She couldn't go back across the bridge. So, she climbed to the roof and bravely jumped from the eastern tower. She landed safely on the battlements of the western tower. She then quickly returned to her bed, where her mother found her. The distance between the towers was several meters, so this was an amazing jump! The next day, Dorothea and her lover ran away together. No one knows what happened to them after that.
People have reported seeing a tall young woman in a green silk dress around Huntingtower. These sightings usually happen at dusk, but sometimes even in daylight. Her appearance is said to be a bad sign, warning of trouble to come. In the 1930s, a traveler staying at Huntingtower reportedly saw Lady Greensleeves. The next day, he continued his journey to Fife. Sadly, he drowned when he fell from the ferry crossing the River Tay.
Another legend at Huntingtower is about St Conval's Well. This well is by the road below the castle. The water from this well is believed to have healing powers. But there's a rule: anyone collecting the water must do so in silence. If a single word is spoken on the way there or back, the water loses its power. People who get water from the well are also supposed to leave a small gift, like a coin, at the well. The well is still in good condition and has clear water today.
Notable People
George Turnbull, a famous civil engineer, grew up nearby. He was the Chief Engineer who built the first railway from Calcutta in India. This railway stretched 541 miles towards Delhi.
