Skibo Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skibo Castle |
|
|---|---|
|
Caisteal Sgìobail
|
|
 |
|
_v2.jpg)
Aerial view of Skibo Castle during 2013
|
|
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Castle in use as a residential country club |
| Architectural style | Scots baronial revival |
| Location | Scottish Highlands |
| Address | Clashmore Dornoch IV25 3RQ |
| Country | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 57°52′23.58″N 4°07′55.98″W / 57.8732167°N 4.1322167°W |
| Construction started | 1899 (incorporating earlier structures) |
| Completed | 1901 |
| Owner | Skibo Ltd. (trading as The Carnegie Club) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | Four and five storeys |
| Grounds | 502 hectares (1,240 acres) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Ross & Macbeth (1899 alterations) |
| Other designers | T. H. Mawson (1901 gardens and terrace) |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 21 rooms and 12 lodges |
|
Listed Building – Category A
|
|
| Official name | Skibo Castle and Garden Terraces, Walled Garden and Glasshouses |
| Designated | 18 March 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB597 |
|
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
|
|
| Official name | Skibo Castle |
| Designated | 1 July 1987 |
| Reference no. | GDL00343 |
Skibo Castle is a famous castle in Scotland. It is located in the Scottish Highlands, near Dornoch. The castle overlooks the beautiful Dornoch Firth.
Even though much of the castle you see today was built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, its history goes back much further. It was once the home of a very rich businessman named Andrew Carnegie. Today, Skibo Castle is a special club called The Carnegie Club. Members and their guests can stay in the castle or in lodges on the estate. They can also enjoy a private golf course and fun activities like tennis and horse riding.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Skibo comes from an old word. Experts like William J. Watson say that "Skibo" is the English version of the Scottish Gaelic word Sgìobal.
This Gaelic word likely came from an Old Norse name. It might have meant "firewood-steading" or "Skithi's steading." A "steading" is like a farm or a home.
A Look Back in Time
Early Days of Skibo Castle
The first time Skibo Castle was written about was in a document from 1211. For many years, the castle was where the Bishops of Caithness lived. Bishops are important church leaders.
The castle stayed with the bishops until 1545. At that time, the church gave the estate to a man named John Gray. This was a smart move by the church. They wanted to team up with a powerful family as new ideas about Protestantism were spreading.
New Owners and Big Changes
In 1745, Robert Gray gave up the estate. Later, a relative bought it and built a more modern house before 1760. The castle changed owners many times over the years.
In 1872, Evan Charles Sutherland-Walker bought Skibo. He made the house bigger and improved the land around it. However, by 1897, the building was not in good shape.
Andrew Carnegie's Vision
That's when Andrew Carnegie, a very wealthy businessman, rented the castle for a year. He had the option to buy it. In 1898, he decided to buy Skibo Castle for £85,000.
The castle needed a lot of work. Carnegie spent another £2 million on improvements! He made the castle much larger, from about 1,500 square meters to over 5,500 square meters. He also added a lake called Loch Ospisdale, an indoor swimming pool, and a 9-hole golf course. Carnegie hired Alexander Ross to do these big upgrades. Ross even added electricity to the castle, powered by its own station!
Skibo Castle Today
Skibo Castle stayed with the Carnegie family until 1982. Later, a businessman named Peter de Savary bought it. He turned it into a private club for members, called The Carnegie Club.
To create the club, the castle was carefully restored. It was made to look like a fancy Edwardian country estate. Many lodges on the castle grounds were also fixed up. These lodges provide extra places for club members to stay.
In 2003, Peter de Savary sold the club to Ellis Short for £23 million. Since then, about £20 million has been spent to make the 8,000-acre estate even better. The club works hard to keep the historic castle in great condition. They have improved the golf course, restored Carnegie's swimming pool, and fixed up all the bedrooms.
The Carnegie Club Experience
The Carnegie Club is a special club just for its members and their guests. If someone wants to join, they can apply for a one-time visit. This helps them decide if they want to become a member.
Golf at Skibo
The Carnegie links golf course is very quiet. Fewer than 4,000 rounds of golf are played there each year. This means that people staying at the club don't need to book a time to play. They can just play whenever they like! A few public tee times are available for non-members from May to October.
The money from membership fees and stays helps pay for the upkeep of the entire estate.
Famous Events at the Castle
Skibo Castle has hosted some famous weddings:
- In 1995, golfer Sam Torrance married actress Suzanne Danielle here.
- On December 28, 1997, actor Robert Carlyle married Anastasia Shirley at the castle.
- On December 22, 2000, singer Madonna married Guy Ritchie at Skibo Castle.
Exploring the Castle Grounds
The castle grounds are huge and beautiful. They include a small artificial lake called Lake Louise. This is one of the few places in Scotland where a body of water is called a "lake" instead of a "loch."
The entire estate is listed on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. This means it's recognized as a very important designed landscape in the country.
Images for kids
-
Aerial view of Skibo Castle during 2013
-
Andrew Carnegie at Skibo, 1914
-
Skibo Castle during 1983
