Borthwick Castle
Borthwick Castle is a castle about 1.5 km northeast of the Scottish village of North Middleton in the Council Area Midlothian . In 1971 the building was included in the Scottish List of Monuments in the highest category A.
Borthwick Castle is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a 15th century Scottish castle. It has an unusual U-shaped floor plan. There are reports that prisoners once had the opportunity to buy themselves out by jumping over the four-meter-wide gap between the legs of the building with their hands tied.
history
The Borthwick family acquired the lands in the early 15th century . King James I gave William de Borthwick permission to build a defensive tower in 1430, which was completed shortly afterwards. He replaced Catcune Castle as the family seat of the Borthwicks. It is believed that there was previously a moth at the site of Borthwick Castle , which was first leveled.
In 1567, after the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley , Queen Mary Queen of Scots found refuge at Borthwick Castle with James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell . After her whereabouts became known, the queen allegedly fled the castle disguised as a man. When Oliver Cromwell's forces besieged Borthwick Castle, William Borthwick, 10th Lord Borthwick allegedly refused to leave Borthwick Castle. After a cannon shot had been fired at the walls, he decided to give up. Damage to the masonry that could have been caused by this single shot can still be seen today.
No Borthwick inhabited the castle for the next 160 years until J. Borthwick bought it back. The castle was restored between 1892 and 1914. Treasures were safely hidden there during the Second World War . Borthwick Castle has served as a hotel since 1973.
Individual evidence
Web links
- Web presence of Borthwick Castle
- Entry in the Gazetteer for Scotland
- Entry on Borthwick Castle in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
Coordinates: 55 ° 49 ′ 36 " N , 3 ° 0 ′ 26.8" W.