Thirlestane Castle facts for kids
Thirlestane Castle is a grand old castle in Scotland. It sits in huge parklands near the town of Lauder in the Borders. The castle is on a raised piece of ground called Castle Hill. This land is in Lauderdale, which is the valley of the Leader Water river. The Maitland family has owned this land since 1587. Thirlestane Castle was the main home for the Earls of Lauderdale.
The castle was made much bigger in the 1670s by John Maitland, who was the first and only Duke of Lauderdale. More parts were added in the 1800s. Today, a special group called a charitable trust looks after the castle. It is open for people to visit and explore.
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History of Thirlestane Castle
Long before the 1200s, a large fort or castle stood on Castle Hill. This was the same spot where the old church of Lauder was located. These old sites are now within the castle's grounds.
This early castle passed to Robert Lauder. In 1532, he gave it to his daughter Alison and her husband George Wedderhede. Sadly, Alison, George, and their son were all killed in family fights. Alison died in 1547. The land likely went back to Alison's parents, and they passed away in 1567.
The Rough Wooing War
During a war with England called the 'Rough Wooings', a large English fort was built on the castle's site. This fort was started in 1548 and was meant to be finished quickly. In 1550, local villagers were told to pull down the fort. They also helped move the cannons to Hume Castle.
On January 27, 1587, the Cranstoun family sold Castle Hill to Sir John Maitland. By March 1587, Maitland was already busy building his new house on the old fort's foundations.
The Maitland Family and Castle Changes
The Maitland family came to Britain from Normandy in 1066. They became powerful through military service and their work in law and arts. William Maitland of Lethington was a secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots. His younger brother, Sir John Maitland, became Secretary of Scotland. He bought Thirlestane in 1587.
In the same year, Sir John built a large square keep or tower house on the old fort's walls. In 1590, he became Lord Chancellor of Scotland and was given the title Lord Maitland of Thirlestane. This new house near Lauder was built to replace the Maitlands' older, crumbling home. Their original (Old) Thirlestane Castle was a peel tower about a mile away.
King James VI of Scotland visited the castle several times. He came in 1591 for a wedding and again in 1593. After Sir John Maitland died in 1595, his wife Jean Fleming married the Earl of Cassilis. In 1599, Fleming and the Earl of Cassilis hosted King James VI at the castle.
Sir John Maitland's son, John Maitland, became the 1st Earl of Lauderdale in 1624. His son was John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale (1616–1682). He was a very important Scottish leader in the late 1600s. He became Secretary of State for Scotland in 1660, which gave him great power.
The Duke hired a famous architect, Sir William Bruce, to change the castle. He wanted it to be a grand home suitable for important government meetings. Between 1670 and 1676, big changes were made. Two front towers and a large staircase were added. Inside, beautiful rooms with amazing plasterwork ceilings were created. Bruce kept much of the old castle's look, so it still seemed ancient. But the inside was very modern and stylish for the time.
By the 1800s, Scotland was more peaceful. The castle became a large country home for the Earls of Lauderdale. In 1840, architects David Bryce and William Burn designed more additions. They added two large wings on either side of the main castle. A south wing was also built around a central courtyard. This new wing held kitchens, pantries, laundries, and rooms for servants.
Thirlestane Castle During World War Two
During World War Two, the castle became a temporary home for St. Hilary's, a girls' school from Edinburgh. The 15th Earl and Countess of Lauderdale lived in one part of the castle. The school used the rest. The girls slept on the upper floors. The main rooms were used as classrooms. The big dining room became the school's dining hall and assembly room. St. Hilary's stayed at Thirlestane until the end of 1944.
Thirlestane Castle Today
In 1972, Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew inherited the castle from his grandmother. At this time, the castle needed a lot of repairs. In 1984, the castle was given to a charitable trust. This trust was set up to make sure the castle would be saved and looked after. Major repairs were done with help from special grants.
Besides its beautiful grounds, the castle has amazing collections. You can see paintings, old furniture, delicate porcelain, and a historic toy collection. The castle is open to visitors during certain times of the year.
In 2021, permission was given to build holiday lodges in the castle grounds.
See also
Images for kids
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Maitland's original peel tower (Old Thirlestane Castle)
