Old Slains Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Slains Castle |
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The remains of Old Slains Castle
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| OS grid reference | NK052300 |
| Built | 13th-century |
| Built for | Comyn, Earl of Buchan |
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Old Slains Castle, also known as Old Castle Slains, is a ruined castle located near Collieston in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This ancient castle has a long and interesting history, including being destroyed and rebuilt.
Castle History
This castle was built in the 1200s. It first belonged to a powerful family called the Comyn, who were the Earls of Buchan.
However, in the 1300s, the Comyn family lost their lands. The castle was then given to Sir Gilbert Hay. This was a gift from Robert the Bruce, who was the King of Scotland. He gave it to Sir Gilbert because of his strong support against the English.
Later, in 1589, King James VI of Scotland took control of Slains Castle. He placed his own soldiers there. In 1593, it was said that Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll, welcomed many English and Scottish Catholics to the castle. This caused him to spend a lot of money.
In 1594, the Earl of Erroll led a rebellion against King James VI. The king quickly put down this uprising. As a result, on November 1, 1594, Old Slains Castle was destroyed. It was blown up using gunpowder and cannons! The town council of Aberdeen even sent stonemasons and workers to help with the demolition.
After this destruction, the Earl of Erroll returned from being away. He decided to build a brand new castle. This new castle, called New Slains Castle, was built in a different spot near Cruden Bay.
Castle Structure
Originally, Old Slains Castle was a very strong building. It had a five-story main tower, which was shaped like a long rectangle. Only a small part of this tower remains today. In the early 1500s, a wall was added to protect the castle from the land side.
Old Slains Castle Today
Today, only one main wall of the castle still stands. It is about 25 meters (82 feet) tall. In the 1950s, a three-story house was built inside the castle ruins. This house is connected to an old fishing cottage from the 1700s.
Since 1991, archaeologists have done several digs at the site. The last one was in 2007. These digs help us learn more about the castle's past. The remains of Old Slains Castle are now protected as a scheduled ancient monument. This means it's an important historical site that must be preserved.
Images for kids
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(Old) Slains Castle. What remains after it was blown up with gunpowder in 1594.
