Macduff's Castle facts for kids
MacDuff's Castle is a cool old castle that's now in ruins. You can find it near a place called East Wemyss in Fife, Scotland. This castle is linked to the MacDuff family. They were super powerful in Fife way back in the Middle Ages. Even though the MacDuffs were here first, the castle you see today was built by the Wemyss family. They lived here starting in the 1300s.
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History of MacDuff's Castle
Early Days and the MacDuffs
People think that the MacDuff family, who were like powerful chiefs called Mormaers or Earls, might have built a castle here first. This was around the 1000s, when Macbeth of Scotland was king. Nothing from their time is left today.
The Wemyss Family and Royal Visits
The Wemyss family, who were related to the MacDuffs, took over the land in the 1300s. They built the first parts of the castle we can still see. In 1304, a very important visitor came to stay: Edward I of England. He stayed with Sir Michael Wemyss.
However, Sir Michael later decided to support Robert the Bruce, who was fighting for Scotland's freedom. Because of this, King Edward ordered MacDuff's Castle to be destroyed.
Changing Owners and New Buildings
Later, the Wemyss family moved to a different castle nearby called Wemyss Castle. MacDuff's Castle then went to the Livingstone family. After them, in 1530, the Colville family took over.
The Colvilles added a second tower to the castle. They also built walls around a courtyard and a gatehouse. In 1637, Sir John Wemyss bought the castle back. He was from West Wemyss. This brought the lands of East and West Wemyss together as one big area.
What MacDuff's Castle Looks Like Now
The Ruined Towers
MacDuff's Castle used to have two main towers. One was from the 1300s and had four floors. The other was from the 1500s and had five floors. These towers were connected by a building with a gatehouse. This part was built in the 1500s. There were also walls from the 1600s with openings for guns.
Sadly, in 1967, the eastern tower was taken down. This happened after a child got hurt falling from it. The local council decided to remove it to keep everyone safe.
Haunted Tales and Special Status
Some people say the castle is haunted by a "Grey Lady." She is believed to be a woman named Mary Sibbald. The story says she was found guilty of theft and died at the castle.
MacDuff's Castle is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's a very important historical site that is protected by law.
Lost Structures
There used to be a special building called a dovecote near the castle. It was built in the 1500s and was used to keep pigeons. But the sea slowly eroded the land, and the dovecote was destroyed in the 1970s. The castle still belongs to the Wemyss Estate today.
