- Kildrummy Castle
Kildrummy Castle is a ruined
castle nearKildrummy , inAberdeenshire ,Scotland ,United Kingdom . Though ruined, it is one of tne most extensive castle of12th century date to survive in easternScotland , and was the seat of theEarls of Mar .Dating from as early as the
12th century , [James Duff Law, "Here and There in Two Hemispheres", 1903, The Home publishingcompany, 467 pages] the castle is believed to have been constructed during the lordships of Uilleam and Domhnall, Earls of Mar. It has been posited that siting of Kildrummy Castle was influenced by the location of theGrampian Mounth trackway crossings, particularly theElsick Mounth andCryne Corse Mounth . [ [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18037 C. Michael Hogan, "Elsick Mounth", Megalithic Portal, ed A. Burnham] ] Kildrummy Castle underwentsiege numerous times in its history, first in defence of the family ofRobert the Bruce in1306 , and again in1335 byDavid of Strathbogie . On this occasionChristina Bruce held off the attackers until her husband SirAndrew Moray came to her rescue.In
1374 the castle's heiress Isobel was seized and married byAlexander Stewart , who then laid claim to Kildrummy and the title of "Earl of Mar". In1435 it was taken over by James I, becoming a royal castle until being granted toLord Elphinstone in1507 .The castle passed from the
Clan Elphinstone to theClan Erskine before being abandoned in1716 following the failure of theJacobite rebellion .Kildrummy Castle is "shield-shaped" in plan with a number of independent
tower s. The flat side of the castle overlooks a steepravine ; moreover, on the opposite side of the castle the walls come to a point, which was once defended by a massive twin-towered gatehouse. The castle also had a keep, called the "Snow Tower", taller than the other towers, built in the French style, as atBothwell Castle . Extensiveearthworks protected the castle, including a drymoat and the ravine. Most of the castle foundations are now visible, along with most of its lower-storey walls.Archaeological excavations in1925 uncovered decorative stone flooring and evidence of battles.Today, the castle property is owned by
Historic Scotland . A hotel (the "Kildrummy Castle Hotel") has been built on the old estate, overlooking the ruins.References
External links
*historic-scotland-link|169
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