Kellie Castle facts for kids
Kellie Castle is an amazing old castle located near a village called Arncroach in Fife, Scotland. It sits below a big hill known as Kellie Law. This historic castle is about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) north of Pittenweem, a town in the beautiful East Neuk area of Fife.
Contents
A Look Back: Early History of Kellie Castle
Who Owned Kellie Castle First?
The first records of Kellie Castle go all the way back to 1150. A special document from King David I mentions it. The first known owner was Robert of London, who was the son of King William the Lion.
Later, around 1266, the Siward family took over Kellie. They came from a place called Northumbria. They had helped King Malcolm Canmore defeat Macbeth. However, the Siward family supported England during the Scottish Wars of Independence (1296-1328). Because of this, Sir Richard Siward lost his lands in Scotland after the Battle of Bannockburn. But his daughter, Helena Siward, known as “Lady Kellie,” was allowed to keep Kellie Castle. None of the buildings from their time are still standing today.
The Oliphant Family and Royal Visits
Around 1360, Helena gave Kellie to her relative, Walter Olifard (or Oliphant). He was married to Elizabeth, a daughter of Robert the Bruce. This began a 250-year period where the Oliphant family owned the castle.
In 1613, Sir Thomas Erskine bought the castle. He was famous for saving the life of King James VI. King James even stayed at Kellie Castle in 1617 during his only visit to Scotland after he became King of both Scotland and England. In 1619, the King made Erskine the Earl of Kellie.
It's thought that the ceiling in what is now the library was decorated with plaster for King James's visit. This room might have been the first in Scotland to use plaster decoration in the "London style." This was different from the painted wooden ceilings that were popular back then. The ceiling even has the date "1617" and the letters "T V F" for Thomas Viscount Fenton. This was another title King James gave to Thomas Erskine in 1606.
How the Castle Grew Over Time
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Kellie Castle started as a simple tower house. The oldest part of the castle is the lower section of the northwest tower, built around 1360. Some people say this part of the castle is haunted!
In 1573, the 4th Lord Oliphant built a new tower to the east of the original one. He likely built this east tower for his wife, Margaret, to live in if he passed away. Between 1573 and 1606, these two towers were connected by a new section. Another tower was added in the south-west, giving the castle its "T-plan" shape that you see today.
Kellie Castle is a great example of Scots Baronial architecture. This style mixes different features like gables (the triangular parts of a wall under a sloping roof), corbelled towers (towers with stone supports sticking out), and tall chimneys.
Kellie Castle's Recent History
A New Chapter: The Lorimer Family
After 1830, Kellie Castle was left empty for many years. Its contents were even sold off in a big auction. But in 1878, a professor named James Lorimer rented the castle. He was a professor at Edinburgh University. His son, Sir Robert Lorimer, became a very famous Scottish architect.
The Lorimer family began to fix up the castle to use it as a holiday home. But soon, it became their main home. Robert Lorimer helped a lot with the restoration. He worked on the beautiful plaster ceilings, painted panelling, and furniture.
Robert Lorimer's work can be seen in many places. At Kellie, he designed the doocot (a pigeon house) and a garden house. He also helped restore the garden with his sister, Caroline-Louise. You can even see his detailed drawings of Kellie Castle from 1887.
After Professor Lorimer passed away, his wife Hannah continued to rent the castle in 1890. Robert Lorimer started more changes in 1900, building the doocot and garden house.
Passing Through Generations
When Hannah died in 1916, her son, John Henry Lorimer, who was a famous Scottish painter, took over the tenancy. Robert then began restoring the main house, something Hannah had not wanted earlier.
After John Henry's death in 1936, the castle was again empty. But in 1936, Sir Robert's son, Hew Lorimer, who was a sculptor, and his wife Mary, renewed the Lorimer family's tenancy. Hew and Mary Lorimer bought the castle in 1948. Hew owned it until 1970. He continued to live in part of the castle and used the old stables as his art studio until 1990.
Kellie Castle Today
Hew Lorimer sold Kellie Castle to the National Trust for Scotland in 1970. This included 6.5 hectares (about 16 acres) of gardens and an organic walled garden. The walled garden is from the 17th century, with additions from the late Victorian era. It has a wonderful collection of old-fashioned roses, fruit trees, and other plants.
The main items inside the castle were given to the Trust. In 1998, the Trust bought more items that belonged to the Lorimer family. These include paintings by Hannah Cassels im Thurn, who was the oldest daughter of Hannah and James Lorimer. Today, the castle and its gardens are open to visitors. There is also a special display of Hew Lorimer's sculptures and his old studio in the stables.
Inside Kellie Castle: Art and History
The Drawing Room's Hidden Painting
In the drawing room, above the fireplace, there is a painted panel by Phoebe Anna Traquair. She was a very important artist who followed the Arts and Crafts movement. She finished this painting in 1897. It is based on Botticelli's famous painting, Primavera.
When Hew and Mary Lorimer took over the castle, they didn't seem to like the painting. So, in the late 1940s, they carefully covered it with paper and flour paste so it wouldn't get damaged. After Hew Lorimer passed away in 1990, the National Trust for Scotland restored the painting in 1996.
The Dining Room Tapestry
The tapestry in the dining room is actually made up of at least two, and maybe even three, different tapestries sewn together. The main part is a Flemish tapestry from 1580. It shows the story of Europa and the Bull. This tapestry used to be in the drawing room.
In the story, Europa's beauty made Zeus, the king of the gods, fall in love with her. He turned into a white bull and carried her away from Phoenicia to Crete. There is also a Latin message on the tapestry, but it doesn't relate to the Europa story. It says, "The young man has saved his wounded father, carried him back and put him on his horse." The borders around the main tapestry were added later.
John Henry Lorimer's Legacy
In the 1930s, John Henry Lorimer was a leader in what was then called the Edinburgh Astronomical Association. This group is now known as the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh. When he died in 1936, he left a lot of money to the society. They now give out a medal in his honor. The society also owns a statue of John Henry and two of his paintings. You can see the statue and both paintings, "Sunlight in the South Room, Kellie" and "The Long Shadows," at Kellie Castle.
The Great Hall's Magic Mirrors
The largest room in the castle is the Great Hall, which was finished around 1606. The Lorimer family used it as their drawing room. On the west wall, there are two mirrors with eagle designs. Sir Robert Lorimer designed them. These mirrors, on either side of the west window, seem to have a special effect. No matter how far back you stand, your reflection in the mirror appears to stay the same size!
See also
- Earl of Kellie
- List of places in Fife
- List of National Trust for Scotland properties
Images for kids
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Kellie Castle in Scotland
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Kellie Castle (rear view)
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Kellie Castle Gardens
