North West Castle facts for kids
| North West Castle | |
Quick facts for kids .jpg) |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Stranraer, DG9 8EH |
| Opening date | 1820 |
| Developer | John Ross |
| Owner | McMillan Hotels |
North West Castle is a cool, historic hotel located in Stranraer, a town in the south west of Scotland. This amazing building was once a private home. It's famous for its connection to a brave Arctic explorer and for having the world's first indoor curling rink!
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Meet Sir John Ross, the Explorer
North West Castle was built in 1820 by Sir John Ross. He was a famous Scottish rear admiral and Arctic explorer. A rear admiral is a high-ranking officer in the navy.
Sir John Ross built this house after coming back from his first trip to the Arctic. He was trying to find the Northwest Passage. This was a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic.
A Ship's Cabin Inside the Castle
To help visitors understand his adventures, Sir John Ross had a life-size model of his ship's cabin built. This was the cabin from his ship, the Victory. You can still see this special cabin today! It's actually part of the hotel's bar.
A Home for Education
Later, in 1860, North West Castle became the home of Rev. Robert Cunningham. He was a very important person in Scottish education during the 1800s.
Cunningham had been the headmaster of famous schools like George Watson's College in Edinburgh. He also started other schools, including Melville College.
The Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Cunningham also helped create the Free Church of Scotland. This happened after a big event called the Disruption in May 1843. The Disruption was when many ministers and members left the main Church of Scotland to form a new church. Cunningham lived at North West Castle until he passed away in 1883.
World's First Indoor Curling Hotel
North West Castle made history in 1970. It became the very first hotel in the world to have its own indoor curling ice rink!
Curling is a sport played on ice, where players slide stones towards a target area. Because of its unique rink, North West Castle now welcomes curlers from all over the world.
