Huntly Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Huntly Castle |
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| Huntly, Aberdeenshire | |
Huntly Castle
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 Huntly Castle
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| Coordinates | 57°27′18″N 2°46′52″W / 57.45488°N 2.78117°W |
| Type | L-plan tower house |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Strathbogie family (1100-1314) Clan Gordon (1314- ) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 12th century |
| Built by | Duncan II, Earl of Fife |
Huntly Castle is an old, ruined castle in Scotland. It's found north of Huntly in Aberdeenshire, right where the Deveron and Bogie rivers meet. For a long time, it was the main home of the leader of the powerful Clan Gordon. Over the years, four different castles have stood on this spot. They were known by names like Huntly Castle, Strathbogie Castle, or Peel of Strathbogie.
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Where is Huntly Castle?
Huntly Castle is located where the Deveron and Bogie rivers join. This spot is north of the town of Huntly, about 40 miles from Aberdeen. The very first castle here was made of wood and built on a raised earth mound called a motte. Later, a stone castle was built nearby. The castles you see ruins of today were built a bit to the east of the original wooden one.
A Look at Huntly Castle's Past
The first castle was built by Duncan II, Earl of Fife, sometime between 1180 and 1190. It was on the Strathbogie estate and became known as the Peel of Strathbogie.
Duncan's third son, David, inherited the estate. He later became an Earl of Atholl around 1204. During the Strathbogie family's time, Robert the Bruce stayed at the castle when he was sick. The family was loyal to him. However, around 1314, David of Strathbogie changed his mind and supported the English. Robert the Bruce saw this as a betrayal. He then gave the castle and estate to Sir Adam Gordon of Huntly because Sir Adam had always been loyal. In 1506, the castle was officially named Huntly Castle.
Royal Visits and New Buildings
Even though the castle was once burned down, a much grander one was built in its place. In 1496, King James IV of Scotland visited Edinburgh to see Perkin Warbeck (who pretended to be the English king) marry Lady Catherine Gordon. She was the daughter of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly.
King James IV came to Huntly Castle in October 1501. He even gave money to the stonemasons who were working on the castle. He visited again in October 1503 and took part in an archery contest. The king returned the next October, bringing Italian musicians and an African drummer with him. These visits were part of his yearly trip to a holy place called Saint Duthac at Tain.
The castle was built in an L-plan shape. It had a tall five-story tower, a large main hall, and other buildings. You can still see parts of the fancy outside decorations and stone carvings inside. More sections were added to the castle in the 1500s and 1600s.
Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Castle
In September 1562, an English diplomat named Thomas Randolph stayed at Huntly Castle. He wrote that it was "fair" and the "best furnished" house he had seen in Scotland.
Later, Mary, Queen of Scots decided to take control of the castle. She said the Earl of Huntly had kept a royal cannon that belonged to her. In October 1562, she sent her half-brother, John Stewart, Commendator of Coldingham, to arrest George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly at the castle.
When the queen's men arrived, the castle watchman saw them coming. He quickly warned the Earl, who ran out without his boots or sword. He jumped over a low wall and found a horse to escape before he could be stopped. The Earl's wife, Elizabeth Keith, then welcomed the queen's men. She gave them a meal and showed them around. Her chapel was still set up for Catholic worship.
After the Battle of Corrichie in October 1562, the 4th Earl of Huntly died. The castle was then guarded for Mary, Queen of Scots by soldiers. Many of the castle's valuable items, like beds and tapestries, were taken to Edinburgh for the royal collection.
A Sad Football Game
In 1576, George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly died after playing football outside the castle. He was taken to his bedroom in the "New Warke of Strathbogie" (a newer part of the castle). After he died, his body was placed in the Great Chamber. Some strange things were said to have happened in the castle after his death.
King James VI and the Castle
George Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly was Catholic. King James VI wanted to reduce his power in the north. The king arrived at Huntly Castle on April 26, 1589. The Earl of Huntly had already fled, taking all the furniture from the castle. James brought 100 workers to tear down the castle. However, Huntly surrendered, and the king decided not to destroy it completely.
In October 1594, after a battle, King James VI returned to Huntly Castle with workers. He planned to blow up the "great old tower." However, it was decided not to completely destroy Huntly Castle. Some say the pleas of the Countesses of Huntly and Erroll helped save the houses. The king made his friend, Sir John Gordon, the keeper of the remaining buildings.
Restoring the Castle
The Marquess of Huntly later restored and rebuilt parts of the castle. In 1746, a soldier named James Ray saw the ruins. He noted that the ceilings were still decorated with "history-painting".
The Marquess spent a lot of money fixing and making the castle bigger in April 1597. The front of the main building was carved with the names of the Marquess, "George Gordon," and his wife, "Henrietta Stewart."
In 1640, the castle was taken over by the Scottish Covenanter army. They kept the house from being completely destroyed, but some religious images were broken off the front.
In October 1644, the castle was briefly held by James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. In 1647, it was bravely defended against General David Leslie by Lord Charles Gordon. However, the soldiers inside eventually had to surrender. The Marquess of Huntly himself was captured in December of that year. On his way to be executed, he was held in his own mansion.
In 1650, Charles II visited the castle briefly. The Civil War eventually ended the Gordon family's long time living in the castle.
By the early 1700s, the castle was falling apart. People even took stones from it to build houses in the village. In 1746, during another Jacobite uprising, British government troops used it. Later, in the 1800s, people started to care more about old buildings, which helped save the castle from being completely destroyed.
Huntly Castle remained owned by the Clan Gordon until 1923. Today, the castle's ruins are looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. It is protected as a scheduled monument.
In 1987, a big international strongman competition called Pure Strength I was held on the grounds of Huntly Castle. The winner was Jón Páll Sigmarsson from Iceland.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Huntly para niños
