Old Slains Castle
| Old Slains Castle | ||
|---|---|---|
 Remnants of the wall of Old Slains Castle |
||
| Creation time : | 13th Century | |
| Castle type : | Rock castle | |
| Conservation status: | ruin | |
| Geographical location | 57 ° 21 '39.6 " N , 1 ° 54' 50.4" W | |
|
||
Old Slains Castle (also known as Old Castle Slains ) is a ruined castle about five miles from Collieston in Aberdeenshire , Scotland .
history
Slains Castle and its lands have always had a long and deep association with Clan Hay . Built in the 13th century, the castle was originally owned by the Earls of Buchan ( Clan Cumming ) until it was seized in the 14th century. King Robert I of Scotland gave the castle as a gift to Sir Gilbert Hay of Errol in recognition of his services and support against the English during the Scottish Wars of Independence .
In 1453 the leader of the clan, Sir William Hay , was named Earl of Erroll by King James II of Scotland because of his loyalty . Old Slains Castle was then designated as the new seat of the Earls of Erroll. In 1585, Francis Hay became the 9th Earl of Erroll and joined the Roman Catholic Church . He colluded with other Catholic nobles, including the Earl of Huntly, with whom he joined the rebellion in 1589. Hay was also a signatory to the Spanish Blanks. These documents provided for Spanish aid in the religious conflict with England and were signed by Catholic nobles from Scotland. Earl Francis Hay was declared a traitor in 1594 and Old Slains Castle was declared a traitor by the orders of King James VI. destroyed by Scotland in October.
After a period abroad, Hay returned to Scotland in 1597 and swore by the Roman Catholic Church again, thereby regaining the favor of the king. He gave up the ruined Old Slains and built a new castle in the Cruden Bay area, which later became known as New Slains Castle .
Current condition
Today all that remains of the castle are the remains of a wall that is around 25 meters high. In the 1950s, a three-story house was built between the ruins, adjoining an 18th-century fishing village. Archaeological excavations concerning the castle have been undertaken in the area since 1991, most recently in 2007.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Scheduled Monument - entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ Erroll, Francis Hay, 9th Earl . In: Chisholm, Hugh (Ed.): Encyclopædia Britannica , 11th. Edition, Volume IX, Cambridge University Press, 1911.
