Plean Castle facts for kids
Plean Tower, also known by fun names like Cock-a-bendy Castle, is an old building near Plean in central Scotland. It's made up of two main parts: a small, tall tower from the 1400s and a bigger house built next to it in the 1500s. Today, it's a cool place that's both a home and a holiday spot!
Contents
The Tower's Story
Who Owned Plean Tower?
The land where Plean Tower stands was first given to a person named John d’Erth by King Robert Bruce around the year 1314. King Robert Bruce was a famous Scottish king.
Later, in 1449, a person named Lord Somerville got the land. He probably built the tower part of Plean Castle. This was a common type of strong house back then.
Changes Over Time
Around 1528, a larger "manor house" was added next to the tower. In 1643, James Somervell, who was the 8th Lord of Plane, sold the property. He needed to pay off some debts.
After that, the tower and manor house were owned by the Nicholsons and the Elphinstones. But over time, both buildings started to fall apart. During a big event in 1745, known as the Jacobite rebellion, soldiers used the property.
Bringing the Castle Back to Life
In 1908, Sir David Menzies worked to fix up the buildings. But by the 1930s, they were not being used again.
Then, from 1991 to 1997, Nancy and John Patrick Wright and their sons rebuilt the castle from its ruins. They turned it into a home and a place where people can stay for holidays.
What Plean Tower Looks Like
Original and Modern Design
Plean Castle originally had three floors and a small attic room at the very top. It also had special stone supports for its walls.
In its rebuilt form from the 1990s, the tower has a "great hall." This is a large main room with painted ceiling beams and a big fireplace.
Connecting the Buildings
The newer "manor house" is connected to the tower by a wooden walkway. This part of the building sits on top of an old, arched basement. This basement is from the original manor house built in 1528.
Plean Tower is considered a "category B listed building." This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
