Claypotts Castle
Claypotts Castle is an early modern castle in the West Ferry suburb of the Scottish city of Dundee . It is one of the best preserved examples of a Z-shaped tower house from the 16th century in Scotland. The castle, which is surrounded by modern buildings, is a Scheduled Monument . It is currently only open to the public a few days a year.
history
Originally, John Strachan had the castle built in 1569–1588, as can be seen from the inscriptions in stones on parts of the castle. This suggests a construction time that clearly exceeded the then usual for such a small building. The Strachan family originally leased the land on which the castle was built from the Tironesian Lindores Abbey at the beginning of the 16th century.
In 1601 the Strachan family sold the castle to Sir William Graham of Ballunie , who later sold it to Sir William Graham at the Claverhouse . In 1689, after the death of the then owner, John Graham of Claverhouse at the Battle of Killiecrankie , Claypotts Castle became the property of the Crown. In 1694 the castle was lent to James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas . It later came into the possession of his son, the Duke of Douglas , and after his death in 1761 an eight-year lawsuit broke out over the property. The court eventually named Archibald Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas , as heir. The castle later fell by marriage to Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home , who donated Claypotts Castle to the state in 1926. Today the property is managed by Historic Scotland.
Legend has it that a hard-working brownie once lived in the castle , but because of a lazy kitchen maid he turned away with horror and left the place.
architecture
The castle has protruding towers at diagonally opposite corners of the main block, resulting in a residential tower with a Z-shaped floor plan. This was a preferred method of construction in the 16th century and enabled the defenders to fire from both towers along the façades of the main block, even if this small residential castle is unlikely to have assumed the role of a defensive structure.
Individual evidence
- ^ Claypotts Castle . Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
- ↑ Russell Ash: Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain . Reader's Digest Association, 1973. ISBN 978-0-340165-97-3 . P. 460.
Web links
Coordinates: 56 ° 28 '35 " N , 2 ° 53' 24" W.