Inchdrewer Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inchdrewer Castle |
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| Southwest of Banff, Aberdeenshire | |
Inchdrewer Castle
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 Inchdrewer Castle
Location within Aberdeenshire
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| Coordinates | 57°38′06″N 2°34′40″W / 57.63506°N 2.57789°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Olga Roh |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1500 |
| In use | Jacobite rising of 1745 |
| Materials | Ashlar rubble |
Inchdrewer Castle is an old castle from the 1500s in the northeast of Scotland. It's a type of castle called a tower house, which is a tall, strong building. It sits on a small hill about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) southwest of Banff and looks out towards Banff Bay. The castle was first owned by the Currour family. Later, in 1557, the Ogilvy family bought it and made it their main home.
The Ogilvies were loyal to the King (they were called Royalists). Because of this, the castle was attacked in 1640 by a group called the Covenanters, who supported the Scottish church. In 1713, a sad event happened: George Ogilvy, 3rd Lord Banff was murdered, and his body was hidden inside the castle before it was set on fire. The castle faced another attack in 1746 during the Jacobite rising.
By the early 1800s, the castle was inherited by the Abercromby family. They rented it out for a while, but after 1836, no one lived there, and it started to fall apart. For over a hundred years, the castle was neglected. Some basic repairs were done between 1965 and 1971 to make it waterproof, but it still remained empty. The castle became very ruined. In 2013, it was sold to a former model named Olga Roh, who plans to restore it. Some people believe the castle is haunted by the ghost of the 3rd Lord Banff and a white dog. Inchdrewer Castle is a very important historical building, known as a category A listed building.
Contents
The Castle's Beginnings: Early History
When Was Inchdrewer Castle Built?
We don't know the exact year Inchdrewer Castle was built. It was likely constructed sometime in the early to mid-1500s. This was during the time when either King James IV or King James V ruled Scotland.
Who Owned Inchdrewer Castle First?
The castle was originally owned by the Curror (or Currour) family. In 1557, Walter Ogilvy of Dunlugas bought it. The Ogilvy family then made Inchdrewer Castle their main family home. James Currour, from the original family, was a notary in Banff. A notary is someone who can legally witness documents and agreements.
Changes and Challenges for the Ogilvy Family
In the late 1500s, the Ogilvy family made some big changes to the castle. They added more buildings in the courtyard and a special round tower. This new tower included the main hall on its first floor. In 1633, King Charles I officially recognized George Ogilvy, 1st Lord Banff as the owner of the lands. George was a strong supporter of the King, known as a Royalist.
Because George was a Royalist, Inchdrewer Castle was attacked in 1640 by forces called Covenanters. These forces were led by General Robert Monro. The attack left the castle in ruins. Another home belonging to the Ogilvy family was also destroyed. In 1642, George Ogilvy was given a special title and became the first Lord Banff.
Tragedy and Rebellions at the Castle
George Ogilvy, 3rd Lord Banff, took over the castle when his father died in 1668. Sadly, he was murdered in 1713, and his body was hidden inside the castle, which was then set on fire. After this terrible event, the castle had to be repaired again.
In 1746, during the Jacobite rebellion, the castle was attacked once more. This time, troops led by the Duke of Cumberland were involved. More repairs were carried out on the castle later in that century.
New Owners and Decline
When William Ogilvy, the 8th Lord Banff, passed away in 1803, his sister Jean inherited the estate. Her son, Sir Robert Abercromby, 5th Baronet, later took over. The Abercromby family's main home was Forglen House. Inchdrewer Castle was rented out to other people until 1836. After that, it was left empty and started to fall apart. By the early 1900s, the castle was in a very bad state.
Inchdrewer Castle's Recent History
Attempts to Save the Castle
Count Robin Mirrlees bought Inchdrewer Castle in the early 1960s. Some repair work was started around 1965. A historian named Nigel Tranter visited the castle in 1966 and described it as a "ruinous shell." By 1971, some important repairs had been done to make the castle "wind and watertight," meaning it was protected from the weather.
However, after these repairs, the castle was left empty again. It continued to get worse. Count Mirrlees never actually lived in the castle. Local people remember that the inside of the castle was only used once during this time for a special ceremony.
Protecting a Historic Building
In 1972, Historic Scotland officially recognized Inchdrewer Castle as a category A listed building. This means it's a very important historical site that needs to be protected. Despite this, reports in the early 2000s showed that the castle was still in poor condition. By 2008, all its windows were broken. Officials noted that it was "on the cusp of ruination" by 2010.
A New Owner and Future Plans
Count Mirrlees passed away in 2012. In 2013, the castle ruins were put up for sale. In November 2013, Olga Roh bought the castle. She was a former model for famous fashion brands like Valentino and Versace. Olga Roh had never been to Scotland or seen the castle before buying it! She said she plans to restore it. She hopes to use it for fashion shoots, as a place to film movies, or as a home.
Inchdrewer Castle's Design and Features
How the Castle Was Built
Inchdrewer Castle started as a basic L-shaped tower. It was built using strong, cut stones called ashlar dressed rubble. In the late 1500s, a round tower was added to the south side. This new tower had a staircase inside. More buildings were also added to the courtyard.
The castle had new entrances put in, and the old first-floor doorway was closed. You could enter on the west side through a narrow, rounded doorway. A wider main entrance was added on the south side.
Special Architectural Details
The castle had many interesting features. The tops of the towers had corbelled battlements, which are decorative stone supports and protective walls. There were also small turrets (towers) higher up. The main hall on the first floor had a large, tall window to let in light. There were also "shot holes" in the southwest tower. These were small openings that allowed defenders to fire weapons.
The windows added later in the 1700s looked different from the older ones. They were larger and more evenly spaced.
Current Condition of the Castle
The repairs done in 1971 made the castle waterproof and added new windows. However, since it was abandoned again, the weather and even vandalism caused more damage. In 2013, the castle was in a very ruined state and not safe to live in.
Spooky Stories: Superstition and Haunting
Newspaper stories from the 2000s say that the ghost of George Ogilvy, 3rd Lord Banff, who was murdered, haunts Inchdrewer Castle. The historian Nigel Tranter visited the castle again in the 1970s. He said that a large white dog, possibly a Samoyed, ran out of the castle as he approached it. He couldn't figure out how the dog could have been inside the empty castle for so long. Later, he saw a magazine that said the castle was "haunted by a lady in the shape of a white dog."
