Rockhall Tower facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rockhall Tower
Rockhall House
Rockhall Tower in 2008
Location	Collin, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Built	16th century
Owner	Clan Kirkpatrick Clan Grierson Morgan family Rose family Mitchell family
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Rockhall Tower, also known as Rockhall House, is an old castle built in the 1500s. It is located in a place called Collin, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. This historic building was first owned by the Clan Kirkpatrick. Later, it became the home of the Clan Grierson family through marriage. It was also the main home for the Grierson baronets, a special title given to some members of the family. A famous person named Sir Robert Grierson, 1st Baronet lived here until he passed away in 1733.

What is Rockhall Tower?

Rockhall Tower is a type of building called a tower house. These were strong, tall homes built in Scotland, especially in the 1500s. They were designed to be both a comfortable home and a safe place. People could defend themselves if there was trouble.

How Old is Rockhall Tower?

The main part of Rockhall Tower was built in the 16th century, which means the 1500s. Over the years, new parts were added to the house. This made it much bigger than it was originally.

The History of Rockhall

The land where Rockhall Tower stands has a very long history. Even before the tower was built, there were other important structures nearby.

Early Days of Rockhall

About a kilometer from the tower, you can find the remains of Rockhall Mote. This was a much older castle, built in the 1100s. It was a "motte and bailey" castle, which means it had a raised earth mound (the motte) with a tower on top. There was also a courtyard (the bailey) below.

Close to this old castle, a chapel was built in the 1200s. At that time, the land belonged to William of Glencairn. Later, in the late 1200s, Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale gave the chapel to a religious group called the Gisborough Priory.

The Grierson Family Takes Over

No one knows exactly when the first tower at Rockhall was built. The land first belonged to the Clan Kirkpatrick from a place called Closeburn.

On November 14, 1412, a man named Gilbert Grierson, 2nd Lord of Lag, got married. He married Isabel Kirkpatrick, whose father owned Rockhall. Because of this marriage, the Rockhall estate eventually went to their son, Vedast Grierson. The Grierson family then owned Rockhall for a very long time, all the way until the 1950s.

Changes and Additions to the House

In 1526, the King of Scotland, James V of Scotland, made the Rockhall lands a special area called a feudal barony for Sir John Grierson. This was an important title.

Later in the 1500s, the house was made much bigger. Its length was tripled! In the 1600s, another part was added to the south side of the house.

Important Grierson Owners

Sir Robert Grierson, 1st Baronet lived at Rockhall in his later years. He lived there with his wife, Lady Henrietta Douglas, and their five children. Lady Henrietta was the sister of a very important person, William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry.

After Sir Robert passed away, his oldest son, Sir William Grierson, 2nd Baronet, inherited Rockhall. Sir William died in 1737, and the house then went to his brother, Sir Gilbert. Sir Gilbert passed away in 1766. He left the house to another Sir Robert Grierson. This Sir Robert moved an old entrance gate from Mouswald Tower to Rockhall's stables in 1815.

The ownership of Rockhall continued through many generations of the Grierson family.

• In 1839, Sir Robert was followed by his son, Sir Alexander.
• Sir Alexander died the next year, and Rockhall went to his son, Sir Richard.
• Sir Richard owned the castle until he died in 1846.
• Another son, also named Sir Alexander, inherited the house. He hired an architect to update the house between 1854 and 1855.
• After this Sir Alexander died in 1879, Rockhall went to his nephew, Sir Alexander Davidson Grierson. He hired another architect to redesign the inside of the house in 1880.
• More changes were made in 1915 by JM Bowie for Sir Robert Grierson. This included a new entrance to the house.

Rockhall in the 20th Century

In the 1900s, the Grierson family rented out Rockhall to other families. The Reid family lived there in the 1920s. The Morgan family lived there in the 1930s and 1940s.

In 1951, Sir Robert Grierson sold Rockhall Tower to Brigadier Russell Morgan. In 1963, the castle was put up for sale again by Brigadier D.R. Morgan, who was related to the Griersons through marriage.

Rockhall Today

Rockhall was turned into a hotel for a while, called the Rockhall Country House Hotel. But in 1997, it became a private home again. The property now includes the castle itself, a small log cabin that can be rented for holidays, and a large 10-acre garden.