Melgund Castle facts for kids
Melgund Castle is a historic building located about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) east of Aberlemno in Angus, Scotland. This castle was built in the 1500s and has an "L" shape. It has been partly fixed up and is now a private home. In 1971, it was officially named a scheduled monument, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of Melgund Castle
Who Owned Melgund Castle?
The land where Melgund Castle stands was first owned by a family called the Cramonds. Later, it passed to the Clan Bethune or Beaton family.
When Was Melgund Castle Built?
Some people say the castle was built around 1543. They believe Cardinal David Beaton, who was a very important church leader and a top official in Scotland, ordered it built. He wanted it as a home for himself and Margaret Ogilvie.
However, other experts, like Charles McKean, think that the work done in the 1540s was actually just updating an older building. Other sources suggest that David Bethune, the Cardinal's son, was the one who built the castle around 1560.
Much later, the castle became part of the family of the Earls of Minto through marriage. They even got a special title, Viscount Melgund, which is now used by the person who will inherit the earldom. The castle stayed in this family until it was sold in 1990.
Restoring the Castle
Between 1990 and 1996, archaeologists carefully studied the castle. This was done to prepare it for being partly turned into a home again. The restoration work finished in August 2002. Workers mostly used local materials, including stone from a quarry that was specially reopened nearby.
The part of the castle used for living, on the east side of the main tower, was kept as a ruin. The biggest change you can see from the outside is the new roof on the main tower. The architects, Benjamin Tindall Architects, did the restoration. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland called their work "Perhaps the best Tower House project of the last 20 years."
What Melgund Castle Looks Like
Melgund Castle was built to look like an older castle from the 1400s, but with new parts added in the 1500s. It might even have older structures built into it.
The castle has a main tower, called a keep, which is four stories tall with an attic. It also has a stair tower that seems to have been made taller to act as a watchtower. On the east side, there was a two-story living area with a round tower at its northeast corner. You can see a carved shield with the letters "D.B." on one of the stone doorways.
