Loch Doon Castle facts for kids
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Loch Doon Castle was an old castle in Scotland. It used to stand on an island in Loch Doon.
But something amazing happened to it! In the 1930s, the water level of the loch was raised to create electricity. So, the castle was carefully taken apart and rebuilt on the side of the loch.
The Story of Loch Doon Castle
Loch Doon Castle was built a long, long time ago, in the late 1200s. It had a very special shape, with an eleven-sided outer wall.
In the 13th century, powerful families like the Earls of Carrick owned the castle. During the Wars of Scottish Independence, a time when Scotland fought for its freedom, the castle was held by an English governor. He gave it up to the English army.
However, the brave Scottish forces of King Robert I of Scotland quickly took it back! The castle changed hands many times over the years. In 1306, the Corrie family became its keepers.
Later, in the 15th century, the Kennedy family owned the castle. But it was taken from them by William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas in 1446 after a siege. A siege is when an army surrounds a castle to try and take it over.
Even after being given back to the Kennedy family, the castle was taken again in 1511 by William Crauford. Finally, in the 16th century, King James V of Scotland ordered the castle to be destroyed. He did this to reduce the power of the local lords, called barons, in the area of Galloway.
Moving a Castle!
Imagine moving an entire castle! That's what happened to Loch Doon Castle. In the 1930s, a big project was started to build a hydro-electric scheme. This meant raising the water level of Loch Doon to create power.
To save the historic castle, it was carefully taken apart, stone by stone. Then, it was rebuilt on the shore of the loch, where you can see it today. This was a huge and impressive task!
A Protected Piece of History
Both the original spot where the castle stood and its new home are now protected. They are called "scheduled ancient monuments." This means they are important historical sites that are kept safe for everyone to learn from and enjoy.
