Inveraray Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inveraray Castle |
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| Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
Inveraray Castle in 2014
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 Inveraray Castle
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| Coordinates | 56°14′15″N 5°04′25″W / 56.2374808°N 5.0735762°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference NN095092 |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Events | |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Designated | 20 July 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB11552 |
Inveraray Castle (pronounced IN-vər-AIR-ə or IN-vər-AIR-ee) is a grand country house in western Scotland. It sits on the shore of Loch Fyne, which is Scotland's longest sea loch. A "sea loch" is like a long, narrow lake that is connected to the sea.
This castle is one of the first buildings ever made in the Gothic Revival style. This style brings back ideas from medieval Gothic buildings, like pointed arches and towers. Inveraray Castle has been the home of the Dukes of Argyll since the 1700s. The Dukes of Argyll are the leaders, or "chiefs," of Clan Campbell, a famous Scottish family.
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History of Inveraray Castle
Building the Castle
The current Inveraray Castle was built in the Gothic Revival style. Before this, there was an older castle on the same spot from the 1400s. King James V even stayed at the old castle in September 1533.
Work on the new castle began in 1743. Archibald Campbell, who was the Earl of Ilay and later became the 3rd Duke of Argyll, started the project. The first stone of the new castle was laid in October 1746.
Castle Design and Changes
Inveraray Castle is one of the earliest examples of Gothic Revival buildings. It was built using strong stone. When it was first finished, all the roofs were flat and had "crenellations." These are the notched tops you often see on castle walls, like battlements.
Later, more changes were made. A third floor was added to all four sides of the castle. This new floor had sloped roofs and "dormer windows," which are windows that stick out from a sloped roof. Also, tall, cone-shaped roofs were added to the four round towers.
In the 1770s, the nearby village of Inveraray was moved and rebuilt a short distance away. This was done to give the castle a more private and grand setting.
Fire and Restoration
In 1975, a big fire damaged Inveraray Castle. For a while, the 12th Duke and his family had to live in the castle's basement. People from all over the world helped raise money to fix the castle, and it was carefully restored.
Inveraray Castle Today
Visiting the Castle
Today, Inveraray Castle is open for visitors to explore. Inside, you can see a large collection of over 1,300 weapons. These include pikes, muskets, and swords.
The 13th Duke of Argyll and his family still live in private apartments within the castle. Their home takes up two floors between two of the castle's round towers. Recently, the castle got its first central heating system. It is powered by burning wood-chips from the family's own forests. Before this, the castle was only heated by open fireplaces.
Castle Grounds and Estate
Inveraray Castle is considered a "Category A listed building." This means it is a very important historical building in Scotland. The castle is surrounded by a large garden that is about 16 acres in size. The entire estate is huge, covering about 60,000 acres.
Besides welcoming visitors to the castle, the estate is also involved in many activities. These include growing trees for wood, farming, using wind and water to make power, and managing deer.
Castle Flag
When the Duke of Argyll is staying at Inveraray Castle, his special flag, called his "banner of arms," is flown above the castle. This flag shows his family's unique design. When the Duke is not at home, a different flag is flown. This flag is the banner of arms for Clan Campbell, which is the Duke's family clan.
