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Location
near Edzell, Angus, Scotland
Description
Edzell Castle is located at Edzell, six mile north of Brechin on the B966.
Edzell Castle is located near Edzell about 5 miles north of Brechin, in Angus. Construction of Edzell Castle began around 1520 by David Lindsay, 9th Earl of Crawford. The castle consists of the early 16 century four-storey tower house (Stirling Tower), west range, and the late 16th century north range. The tower walls are over 6 feet thick at the basement. The entrance to the tower house is through a door protected by "inverted keyhole" shaped gun holes. The hall is on the first floor, above two vaulted cellars. The broad main spiral stair led up to three further storeys of private chambers, up to a small rooftop chamber giving access to a parapet walk. The four corners of the tower have open turrets. The parapet is supported on projecting stones, or corbels. Edzell Castle has an attractive Renaissance garden surrounded by a 12 feet high wall. The north wall is part of the castle courtyard. The castle was given into state care in the 1930s, and is now a visitor attraction run by Historic Scotland.
History
The first castle at Edzell was a timber motte and bailey structure. The motte, or mound, is still visible 300 metres south-west of the present castle, and dates from the 12th century. The existing tower house and courtyard was built in 1520 by Sir David Lindsay. In August 1562, David Lindsay received Mary, Queen of Scots who spent two nights at Edzell. Her son, King James VI, visited Edzell twice in the 1580s. Sir David extended the castle in the late 16th century, with the addition of a large north range with round corner towers. During the Third English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland and his troops took Edzell in 1651 for a month. The castle began to decline around the time of the 1715 Jacobite Rising. The last Lindsay lord of Edzell sold the castle to the 4th Earl of Panmure who ended up being stripped of his property for taking part in the failed rebellion. Edzell was then sold, by the Crown, to a London waterworks company which had an interest in the buying and selling of forfeited property. In 1746, the castle was damaged when a unit of government troops occupied the building. By 1764, the remaining contents of the castle, including the roofs, were removed and sold to pay off debts.
Other Castles in the Area
Birse Castle, Aberdeenshire
Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire
Drumtochty Castle, Aberdeenshire
Ethie Castle, Angus
Fasque Castle, Aberdeenshire
Glamis Castle, Angus
Invermark Castle, Angus
Kinnaird Castle, Angus
Knock Castle, Aberdeenshire
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Edzell Castle the ancient seat of the Lindsays has a fine early 17th century formal walled garden.
Photograph by Anne Burgess. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
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Garden feature at Edzell Castle. Taken from inside the castle looking down onto the planted border. They read "Dum Spiro Spero" (while I breathe, I hope) and Endure Forte (endure firmly/ suffer bravely) which are the clan mottos of the Lindsay family
Photograph by Lyn Mcleod. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
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