Teaninich Castle facts for kids
Teaninich Castle is a historic building in Scotland. It is located near the village of Evanton and the town of Alness. Both places are in an area called Ross and Cromarty.
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A Look Back in Time: The Castle's History
It's not clear exactly when Teaninich Castle was first built. But people believe a castle has stood on this spot since at least the 1500s. In those early days, the land around the castle was known as Fyrish.
The Munro Family and the Castle
The Munro family became very important to Teaninich Castle. In 1589, a man named Hugh Munro bought some land in Fyrish. His family slowly bought more land. Finally, in February 1660, the Munros bought Teaninich Castle itself. They even kept the original receipt for the purchase!
Rebuilding the Castle
You can still see old stones in the castle walls today. These stones have dates like 1734 and 1770 carved into them. This suggests there was a large building here even before the current one.
A famous member of the Munro family was Hugh Munro. He was a soldier who sadly lost his eyesight in 1794. Even though he was blind, he loved working on his farms. He also took a great interest in rebuilding Teaninich Castle. People called him the "Blind Captain" or "blind laird." He would even walk around the rooms to measure them himself! Because of his unique way of measuring, some rooms in the castle are a bit uneven.
Hugh Munro's Other Projects
Hugh Munro also started the Teaninich distillery in 1817. A distillery is a place where drinks like whisky are made. At that time, making whisky was a good way for farmers to use their barley crops. He also helped plan the village of Alness.
In 1831, Hugh sold the castle to his brother, General John Munro. Hugh then moved to a smaller house nearby and lived there until he passed away in 1846. The castle stayed with the Munro family until 1923.
New Owners of Teaninich Castle
After the Munro family, an American man named Charles Harrison bought the castle. He was known for driving a very large American car. Some people say he was the inspiration for a character in the famous book 'Little Lord Fauntleroy'.
Teaninich Castle Today
In recent times, Teaninich Castle has been used as a hotel. This means people can stay there and enjoy its history.
Changes Around the Castle
In 2007, some land right behind the castle was sold. A company started building new houses there. More new buildings might be planned for the area around the castle in the future.
The castle has also been put up for sale a few times. In 2013, it was offered for £875,000. Later, in 2016, it was on the market again for £450,000.
