medieval fortress village east scotland lies miles west miles east edinburgh oldest parts castle date 13th century abandoned end 17th century begun castle heavily damaged wars scottish independence twice taken english 14th century repaired family acquired involved plots mary queen scots king eventually castle ceased residence forced castle flush band english civil war damaged castle acquired lord decided build new country house nearby family continued maintain castle gardens handing state care ruins gardens maintained stands rocky heart rich agricultural lands guards coastal approach edinburgh england port ruins comprise 13th century 16th century house built adjacent basement levels survive 15th century additions built comprised large hall tower house east range buildings courtyard demolished surrounding castle gardens laid 16th century present planting largely 20th century garden walls 16th century house history norman family originated northern france settled england following brothers cousins number knights invited scotland granted land king david scotland 12th century given time scotland granted john built castle probably north west modern named island survives gifted monks william son john held hostage england good conduct king william lion succeeded began construction replacement recorded refer earlier timber structure appointed steward marriage king daughter lord builder probably served model 13th century stone castle remains represented status required peaceful times permit prolonged construction project peaceful times ended outbreak wars scottish independence guarded route edinburgh english border changed hands times invasions english king campaign summer castle besieged english forces assault months english victory allowed bring large siege engines castle soon reduced garrisoned english scots english commander 2nd earl recaptured finally scots time deliberately damaged prevent reuse english castle lands passed family married family shortly castle repaired seized 1st earl douglas brief rebellion king later returned sir acted hostage exchange release king james held captive english rewarded appointed treasurer scotland walter eldest son john lord parliament title lord carried extensive works original towers constructing new gatehouse south east large hall tower house added castle 15th century forming east range king visited gave money engaged works north east castle later year patrick died estates divided daughters margaret eldest daughter married 2nd lord castle passed family son william patrick 3rd lord leaders group murdered private secretary mary queen scots patrick forced flee england died leaving son william created lord led plot later known raid year old king seized august ruled king james held captive pardoned following year executed plot seize lands crown keen amateur lord thought laid gardens planted numerous trees today known stories told plot attempted kidnap king james king men murdered 3rd earl brother alexander plot revenge murder king paying large debt owed earl evidence forged kings order granted earl entertained king following year castle restored widow earl passed 3rd earl second son august year event known lord younger brother killed attempting kidnap assassinate perth lord said persuaded join plot offering bribe logan described dwelling scotland failure plot led family castle granted killed lord helped save king permitted live death castle ceased noble residence later created 1st earl sold castle sir douglas sold sold turn created army invaded scotland english civil war defeated scots september victory gained effective control southern scotland bands royalist moss continued harry english supply lines band based ordered general general troops capture castle achieved november mortars destroy inner gate captain moss hanged walls comrades castle briefly field hospital left decay soldier engineer responsible effective use artillery german major designed fortresses near directed mortar fire siege august later spent year secretary state estate purchased widowed lawyer took title lord appointed judge built new house north west village continued maintain gardens castle park installed bowling green 19th century garden walls added wife earl mid-19th century new laid head survived west garden restored based 19th century plans north garden replaced 1920s arts crafts style garden borders 1920s castle passed state care maintained agency castle grounds protected scheduled ancient monument gardens appear inventory gardens designed landscapes scotland national register historic gardens castle boundary walls category listed buildings highest level protection historic building scotland erected crown benefit present baron born brazil educated brazil israel serving served assistant community envoy spokesman philadelphia late member acting consul united_states consul presently heads foundation patron london south_africa baron married ann children jay description castle built natural rocky low ridge overlooking farmland east comprises shaped courtyard metres metres flanked buildings south east sides substantial remains gatehouse south basement east range survives fragments north west curtain walls outline courtyard divided 16th century buildings castle originally approached south bridge metre metre wide ditch 16th century steps built access lodging west survives largely intact 13th century forms south west present castle described architectural historian cluster comprises large round tower south smaller round tower west joined square tower masonry squared dressed stone blocks internally original use rooms difficult interpret round towers served private lord lady large tower contains sided chamber ground level possibly kitchen seven sided main chamber room pointed vaulted ceiling window seats large windows south wall carved fireplace north east door adjacent floor hatch allowed food transferred directly kitchen room square tower west possibly lord bedroom holes ceiling allow smoke escape ruined west round tower probably contained hall chambers storage 17th century main round tower lowered form gun platform fragments rest 13th century castle remain fourth tower lodging stands completed cluster bases round towers south east north east corners castle visible later walls parts north west wall 13th century work blocked basement east range overall plan castle greatly changed later rebuilding work earliest dated example scotland castle round towers project curtain wall opposed example towers contained walls new form subsequently 13th century scottish castles including east range gatehouse gatehouse east range built 14th 15th centuries gatehouse built 14th century east similar nearby castle fronted high pointed arch small round turrets gate protected outer ditch sets doors guard rooms open entrance passage round opening roof known murder hole allowed defenders drop objects attacker breached outer gate large occupy south east angle castle metre high main kitchen metre wide cooking circular vent vaulted ceiling floor access metres deep adjacent passage linked kitchen hall east range east range runs length east castle originally comprised large hall square tower house north east corner basement survives formed finest noble residences time scotland similar contemporary buildings castle basement single tunnel vault low walls area stores large lie south end east 13th century blocked wall support new buildings fireplace north end basement vaulted prison rock cut pit metres square house prisoners peasant classes prison basement vaulted chapel ceremonial water basin private chamber priest door hall metres metres high timber roof gallery south end carved stone located wall formed kitchen north east corner castle tower house provided accommodation lord family guests lowest floor remains chapel probably formed private chamber lord connected adjacent hall lodging constructed acquired castle lodging represents final stage building later 16th century served main residence wife earl children storey building constructed like range stone lodging decorated string courses horizontal running walls large windows protected iron small gun holes rectangular lodging immediately north building separated narrow irregular courtyard accessed passage ground floor lodging remainder ground floor occupied family rooms upper floors floor dining room paved patterned floor tiles painted timber ceiling gardens castle set extensive gardens bounded 19th century wall gardens laid 16th century undergone changes bowling green lies west castle fringed trees formed area west bowling green flower garden laid 18th century design containing cedar monkey puzzle trees north 1920s arts crafts garden home metre border overlooked 19th century summer house border recognised longest world rest gardens comprise numerous mature specimen trees including beech preserved 16th century shaped house castle grounds metres high contains nesting boxes important source food castle inhabitants north east located outside castle gardens 16th century gateway served castle serves adjacent farm
Dirleton Castle