Lochmaben Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lochmaben Castle |
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| Lochmaben, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland UK |
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The castle in 2008
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 Lochmaben Castle
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| Coordinates | 55°06′59″N 3°25′45″W / 55.116287°N 3.429248°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Historic Environment Scotland |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th/14th century; rebuilt 1488-1513 |
| Built by | Edward I |
| Materials | Stone |
Lochmaben Castle is an old, ruined castle in Scotland. It's located near the town of Lochmaben in Dumfries and Galloway. This castle was first built a very long time ago, in the 13th and 14th centuries. It was later rebuilt in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Before this stone castle, there was an even older castle nearby. It was a "motte-and-bailey" castle, which means it had a wooden fort on a small hill (motte) and a fenced area (bailey). The Bruce family, who were important lords, built that first castle around the year 1160.
Contents
History of Lochmaben Castle
Building a Stronger Castle
Around the year 1300, King Edward I of England decided to build a much stronger castle. He built it at the south end of Castle Loch. The parts of the castle that are still standing show how incredibly strong its defenses were.
Battles and Changes in Ownership
In 1384 or 1385, a Scottish leader named Archibald Douglas attacked Lochmaben Castle. With help from other Scottish lords, he took the castle from the English after a nine-day siege. After capturing it, he "razed it to the ground," which means he completely destroyed it.
The castle and the land around it then belonged to the Earls of March. However, by 1455, the castle was owned by Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany. After he died in 1485, the Scottish Parliament decided in 1487 that the castle and its lands would now belong to the King of Scotland.
Royal Visits and Repairs
In 1504, a builder named Gluffar constructed a new hall at the castle. Its roof was made from local wood. King James IV of Scotland visited the castle in August 1504 and even played cards there. In 1509, Robert Lauder was put in charge of the castle as its Captain and Keeper. He was reappointed for several more years in 1512.
Important Sieges and Events
In October 1565, Mary, Queen of Scots and her husband, Lord Darnley, came to Lochmaben. This was after a conflict known as the "Chaseabout Raid."
Later, in 1588, a Scottish lord named Lord Maxwell took over the castle. He was trying to challenge the Protestant king, King James VI of Scotland. In response, King James VI laid siege to Lochmaben Castle. He even got help from English forces and sent gunpowder from Edinburgh. The castle's keeper, David Maxwell, and five other people were hanged after the castle was captured, even though someone tried to arrange a surrender. One of the king's soldiers was shot in the leg during the fight.
In June 1592, there was a story that Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell, who was leading an uprising against King James VI, managed to sneak into the castle dressed as a woman and capture it. The castle was being held by Sir John Carmichael at the time. However, the castle was soon returned to the king's control.
The Castle's Decline
Lochmaben Castle remained an important place and saw many conflicts until the early 1600s. After its last siege, it was slowly abandoned. In 1624, King James offered money for repairs, but it seems nothing was done. Today, the castle is a protected ruin, meaning it's an important historical site that is looked after.
The Earl of Mansfield is the Hereditary Keeper of Bruce’s Castle of Lochmaben.
Images for kids
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View west along the moat
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Interior section of the ruins, looking west
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View from the south showing entrance, moat and drawbridge pit.
