Lauriston Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lauriston Castle |
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| Edinburgh, Scotland NT2021676093 |
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Lauriston Castle from the south
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 Lauriston Castle
Location within the City of Edinburgh council area
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| Coordinates | 55°58′16″N 3°16′42″W / 55.9711986°N 3.2784641°W |
| Type | L-plan tower house with a Jacobean range |
| Site information | |
| Owner | City of Edinburgh Council |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1590 |
| Built by | probably Archibald Napier, 7th Laird of Merchiston |
| In use | 16th century to 21st century |
| Materials | Stone |
Lauriston Castle is an old castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in the 1500s. It looks out over the Firth of Forth, which is a large bay. The castle has big gardens that are open to everyone.
The castle is located on Cramond Road South. It sits between the areas of Cramond, Davidson's Mains, and Silverknowes. The large grounds are known as Lauriston Castle Gardens. They work as a local park for people to enjoy.
The castle was given to the City of Edinburgh Council a long time ago. It is a very important historical building. The gardens are also special and are listed in Scotland's important landscapes.
Contents
History of Lauriston Castle
Early Days of the Castle
A castle stood on this spot even in medieval times. But it was mostly destroyed in 1544. This happened during attacks on Edinburgh by troops led by the Earl of Hertford.
A new tower house was built around 1590. Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston likely built it. He was the father of John Napier, who was famous for inventing logarithms. The castle was probably for Archibald's first son from his second marriage, also named Archibald.
This younger Archibald was known as Napier of Woolmet. He was murdered in 1600. It is thought that his brother, William Napier, lived at Lauriston Castle instead.
Changes in Ownership
In 1622, Alexander Napier inherited the castle. He was another son from the second marriage. Four years later, he became known as "Lord Laurieston." He died in 1629, but his family continued to live there.
In 1683, a rich goldsmith from Edinburgh bought the estate. His name was William Law. He was the father of John Law, a famous economist. The Law family owned the castle for 140 years. However, they probably never lived there.
New Additions and Famous Visitors
In 1823, a banker named Thomas Allan bought Lauriston Castle. He loved minerals. In 1827, he hired a famous architect, William Burn. Burn added new parts to the house in a style called Jacobean. This made the castle much bigger.
The famous writer Sir Walter Scott visited the castle in 1827. He wrote in his journal that Thomas Allan had good taste. Scott liked that Allan kept the old castle and added to it instead of tearing it down. He thought the new parts made it a very comfortable home.
Later owners included Lord Rutherfurd and Thomas Macknight Crawfurd.
A Gift to Scotland
In 1902, William Robert Reid bought Lauriston Castle. He owned a furniture business in Edinburgh. He and his wife, Margaret, made many improvements. They added modern plumbing and electricity. They also filled the house with beautiful furniture and art.
The Reids did not have children. So, they decided to give their home to Scotland. They wanted it to be kept exactly as it was. After Mrs. Reid died in 1926, the City of Edinburgh Council took care of the house.
Today, Lauriston Castle shows what life was like in an Edwardian Scottish country house. It is a special place that lets visitors step back in time.
The Horoscope Stone
In 1905, during some renovations, a special stone was added to the castle wall. It has a carving of an astrological horoscope. People say that John Napier created this horoscope for his brother. You can see it on the front wall, near the ground, under the left stair tower.
Design of Lauriston Castle
Lauriston Castle was first built as an L-shaped tower house. It had four floors and was made of stone. It also had a round stair tower. There were small turrets at the corners with holes for guns.
In 1827, the architect William Burn added a new section. This made the castle into a larger country manor. Most of the inside of the castle looks like it did in the Edwardian period.
Gardens of Lauriston Castle
The large gardens at Lauriston Castle are free to visit. They have many different styles. A special part is the Japanese garden, which is quite big.
This Japanese garden was built by Takashi Sawano. It opened in 2002 and is called the Edinburgh–Kyoto Friendship Garden. It celebrates the friendship between the two cities.
From the back of the castle, you can see beautiful views. You can look out over the Firth of Forth and even see Fife across the water. The Edinburgh Croquet Club plays on three croquet lawns here. These lawns were set up between 1950 and 1955.
In the north-east part of the gardens, you can find some amazing monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana). The castle grounds are also known for their bluebell wood. However, some of this wood was used to create the Japanese Garden.
Ghost Stories
Like many old Scottish castles, Lauriston Castle is said to have a ghost. People sometimes report hearing ghostly footsteps inside the castle.
Images for kids
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Engraving of the castle by James Fittler in Scotia Depicta, published in 1804
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Lauriston para niños
