Torwood Castle facts for kids
Torwood Castle is an old castle ruin in central Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in the 1500s. This historic building is found near the village of Torwood, in the Falkirk Council area. It's known as an L-plan castle, which means it's shaped like the letter 'L'. In 1979, it was named a very important historic site.
Contents
What is Torwood Castle?
Torwood Castle is a special kind of old building. It's a ruin, meaning it's partly broken down. It was built in the 16th century, which was the 1500s. The castle is listed as a Category A listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in Scotland.
A Look Back in Time: History
For a long time, the land around Torwood Castle belonged to the Foresters of Garden family. They were in charge of the nearby Royal Forest of Tor Wood. Experts believe the castle was built around 1566. This was for a person named Sir Alexander Forrester.
Later, the castle changed owners. It went to the Clan Baillie family. Then, in 1635, it was owned by George, the first Lord Forrester. Torwood Castle even played a part in history. In 1585, it was captured by powerful families who were rebelling. They took the castle before trying to capture Stirling Castle.
Restoring the Castle
In 1957, a man named Gordon Millar bought the castle. He worked hard to fix it up. He especially focused on making the stone walls strong again. Before he passed away in 1998, he set up a group called the Torwood Castle Trust. This group was meant to continue his work.
However, the trust eventually stopped its work around 2015. After that, a friend named Gary Grant took over. He moved to the castle in 2018. Gary Grant is still working today to restore and care for this historic building.
What Does it Look Like Today?
Today, Torwood Castle does not have a roof. It stands three storeys tall. The ground floor has a strong, arched ceiling, which is called a vaulted ceiling. The castle also has a shorter section that held the staircase. This part has pointed roof sections called gables at each end.
The castle used to have a courtyard. This courtyard was surrounded by other buildings. Not much of these other buildings remains now. In 1999, people dug up two rooms in the northern part of the castle. They found what used to be a kitchen and a room with a well.
