Neidpath Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neidpath Castle |
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| Near Peebles, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
Neidpath Castle
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 Neidpath Castle
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| Coordinates | 55°39′5.5″N 3°12′53.2″W / 55.651528°N 3.214778°W |
| Type | L-plan tower house |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Earl of Wemyss and March |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | c.1263-1266 |
| Built by | Simon Fraser |
| Materials | Rubble and sandstone |
Neidpath Castle is an old, strong castle located near Peebles in Scotland. It's a special type of castle called an L-plan tower house. This means it has a main rectangular building with a smaller wing sticking out, making it look like the letter 'L' from above. The castle stands high above the River Tweed and has a long, interesting history. Today, it's sometimes used for weddings and filming, and you can visit it by making an appointment.
Contents
The Castle's Early Days
The first castle here was likely built by a man named Simon Fraser between 1263 and 1266. He was an important official in the area at the time. Later, in the early 1300s, the Hay family took over the castle through marriage.
Sir William de Haya probably built the castle we see today in the late 1300s. The Hay family owned it for many years. Even though they later moved their main home to Yester Castle, Neidpath was still used.
Important visitors came to Neidpath Castle. Mary, Queen of Scots visited in 1563, and her son King James VI came in 1587.
Battles and Changes
In 1645, during a time of conflict, Neidpath Castle was prepared to defend against royalist forces. The next year, John Hay, who owned the castle, joined the King's side and was made the first Earl of Tweeddale.
When Oliver Cromwell's army invaded Scotland in 1650, Neidpath was attacked. Some say it gave up easily, but others believe it was one of the hardest castles south of the River Forth to capture. Parts of the castle were damaged during this attack.
In the 1660s, the second Earl of Tweeddale updated the castle and built new buildings around it. He was also interested in improving farming and planted many yew trees. However, he ran out of money and had to sell Neidpath in 1686 to William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry.
New Owners and Neglect
In 1693, the Duke of Queensberry gave the castle to his second son, William Douglas. This William later became the first Earl of Wemyss and March. His son, the second Earl, made more changes to the castle in the 1700s.
The third Earl of March inherited a bigger title and more lands in 1778. After this, he rented out Neidpath Castle to other people. One of these renters was Adam Ferguson, a famous thinker and historian.
Sadly, the castle was not well cared for during this time. By 1790, the upper parts of one wing had fallen down. The famous poets William Wordsworth and Walter Scott both visited the castle in 1803.
When the Duke died in 1810, Neidpath Castle went to the Earl of Wemyss. The castle still belongs to the Earl of Wemyss today. The Earl's future heir even uses the special name "Lord Neidpath" because of the castle.
What the Castle Looks Like
Neidpath Castle is a tall L-plan tower house. This means it has a main rectangular part with a shorter section sticking out, making it look like the letter 'L'. It has rounded corners, which is unusual.
The top of the castle has battlements, which are walls with gaps for defense. These battlements are covered by a roof, and the walkway for guards is a balcony with a railing. The castle has only a few windows, and two of them still have their original iron bars for protection.
Inside, the basement and the main hall on the first floor have arched stone ceilings, called vaults. The main hall is also divided into two levels by a wooden floor. The castle also has a pit dungeon and some small displays of old items found nearby. There are also parts of a walled garden that used to be there.
Above the entrance archway, you can see carvings. These include the goat's head symbol of the Hay family and the strawberry symbol of the Fraser family.
Castle Ghost Story
The castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of Jean Douglas. She was the youngest daughter of William Douglas, Earl of March. Her story is even mentioned in a poem by Walter Scott, who called her "the Maid of Neidpath."
Jean was forbidden to marry the man she loved because he was not considered important enough. While her lover was sent away, she became very weak and sad. When he finally returned, she had changed so much that he didn't recognize her. This broke her heart, and she died. People say her ghost appears wearing a long brown dress with a large white collar.
Filming Location
Neidpath Castle has been used as a location for many films and TV shows. For example, Merlin: The Quest Begins, starring Jason Connery, was filmed there in 1997. It was also used for a series by Sam and Colby in 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Neidpath para niños
