Lordscairnie Castle facts for kids
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Lordscairnie Castle is an old ruined castle found near Moonzie, about 2.5 miles (4 km) north-east of Cupar in Fife, Scotland. It is a special historical site, protected by law as a scheduled monument. This means it's an important place that needs to be preserved.
History of Lordscairnie Castle
The land where Lordscairnie Castle stands belonged to the Lindsay family since 1355. This family later became known as the Earls of Crawford.
Around the year 1500, Alexander Lindsay of Auchtermoonzie built the castle's main tower. He was the second son of the 4th Earl of Crawford. Later, Alexander became the 7th Earl himself. He inherited this title after his nephew died in a big battle called the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
A famous Scottish historian, John Knox, wrote that James V of Scotland, the king, visited the castle just before he died in 1542.
In July 1583, James Stewart, Earl of Arran, stayed at "Carnye, Crawford's house." The castle was not lived in during the 1600s. During that time, a banned religious group, the Episcopalians, used it for secret meetings. Later, people used the castle for farming activities.
What Lordscairnie Castle Looks Like
Lordscairnie Castle was originally an L-shaped tower house. It had five floors, including a basement with a rounded ceiling and a small attic room at the very top.
The staircase is on the north-west side of the castle. It connects all the floors, starting from an entrance on the ground floor. Over time, parts of the castle have been lost. The stone wall around the roof (called a parapet) is gone. Many of the specially cut stones around the windows have also disappeared.
To the north-east of the main tower, there is a single round tower. This tower once stood next to a gate. This gate was part of an outer wall that surrounded the castle area.
Plans for Restoration
In 1996, an American millionaire named Robert Bourne bought the castle. He planned to fix it up and use it as a second home. He also wanted it to be a quiet place for people who create computer software to work.
However, he sold the castle in 2003 without starting any repair work. The castle was put up for sale again in 2012. The asking price was around £220,000. Experts believed that it would cost at least £1 million to fully restore the castle.
