Tower of Lethendy facts for kids
The Tower of Lethendy is an old castle from the 1600s. It's a special type of castle called an L-plan tower house. You can find it in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It's about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of Blairgowrie. It's also about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east of Kirkton of Lethendy. Sometimes, people call this place Lethendy House or Lethendy Tower.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Who Lived Here?
The Heron family used to own this property a long time ago. They were an important family in Scotland.
The Mansion House
Later, in 1884, a large mansion was built next to the tower. A famous architect named Andrew Heiton designed this grand house. It has a special castle-like style.
What Does It Look Like?
The Tower's Shape
The tower house has three main floors and a small attic space called a garret. It has been changed a lot over the years. The main entrance is now inside a newer building. It used to be protected by a small opening called a gunloop. This was for defenders to shoot through.
Inside the Tower
The basement floor has a strong, arched ceiling called a vault. This is where the kitchen was located. In one part of the tower, there is a spiral staircase. This type of stair is called a turnpike stair. Below this staircase, there was once a pit-prison. This was a dark, deep hole used to hold prisoners.
How Big Is It?
The main part of the L-plan tower is about 11.3 metres (37 ft) (37 feet) from east to west. It is about 7 metres (23 ft) (23 feet) wide. The wing, which makes it L-shaped, is about 12 metres (39 ft) (39 feet) from north to south. It is about 5 metres (16 ft) (16 feet) wide.
The Ancient Stone Slab
On the first flight of stairs, there is a very old stone slab. It was carved around the 900s. This stone is from the Picts and Scots people. It shows an angel, priests, musicians, and a dog. This special stone might have been in a nearby field for many years. It was later used to fix the staircase, perhaps in 1678. It now serves as a lintel, which is a strong piece of stone above an opening.
