castle castle ruined 16th century castle century walled garden located close miles north angus scotland begun 9th earl expanded son sir lord laid garden castle saw little military action design construction use country house defensive structure briefly occupied english troops invasion scotland sold family eventually came ownership earl given state care 1930s visitor attraction run open year entrance charge castle consists original tower house building ranges courtyard adjacent renaissance walled garden incorporating intricate relief carvings unique scotland 1930s considered links traditions including history origins castle timber bailey structure built guard mouth strategic pass leading north highlands mound visible metres south west present castle dates 12th century seat family centre vanished original village succeeded lords turn sir son married alexander son david created earl property junior branch family descended 3rd earl inherited decided abandon original castle built tower house courtyard sheltered location nearby selection site overlooked higher ground north suggests defence primary concern david earl death cousin 8th earl son alexander wicked master proceeded extend simple tower house addition large west range incorporating new entrance gate hall lord built castle miles north possibly hunting lodge time sir lord 9th earl son educated paris cambridge travelled continental europe father nominated son alexander wicked master heir returning title senior line family succeed father death lord session senior judge taking title lord appointed renaissance man undertook improvements estates including mining woodland planting german invited search precious metals august received mary queen scots queen royal progress aim rebellious earl spent nights stay convened meeting attended nobility scotland son king visited twice june august sir david extended castle late 16th century addition large north range round corner towers laid garden symbols england scotland ireland celebrate english throne death cousin sir david died heavily debt result fines handed conduct son garden north range incomplete damage decline affected campaigns royalist properties son sir david attacked english civil war invaded scotland september troops took stationed month time presbyterian settlement lord david son switched parish minister barred parish church episcopal services held great hall castle began decline time rising lord david supporter exiled old faced mounting family debts david sold castle fellow scots equivalent sterling lord lands property taking failed rebellion sold crown london company branched buying selling property proceeded asset strip property castle saw military event unit government troops occupied building causing damage bankrupt remaining contents castle including roofs removed sold pay company creditors avenue beech trees linked castle village property sold nephew earl died property passed nephew 8th earl later history castle remained property appointed 1870s built cottage use visitor centre walled garden passed state care followed rest castle castle garden currently maintained open public year round castle protected castle category listed building highest level protection historic building garden included inventory national listing significant gardens house category listed building description known remainder castle lies south west later castle bend comprises low partially natural mound aligned north west south east metres long metres point metres high outer bailey courtyard metres surrounded bordered deep ditch castle castle comprises early 16th century tower house slightly later west range late 16th century north range buildings east south vanished red sandstone walls originally storey tower house named tower original lords old built metres high measures metres metres plan walls metres thick basement metres floor tower house entered north door protected inverted shaped gun holes slot adjacent door held draw bar reinforce entry mason marks remain door hall occupies floor vaulted marks wall position gallery timber screen concealed serving area accessed narrow cellar broad main spiral led storeys private chambers reaching small rooftop chamber giving access walk corners tower open turrets similar projections occur halfway wall supported projecting stones arranged pattern tiers alternate rendering lower tier purely decorative represents early occurrence style known widespread later 16th century storey west range contains main entrance enters courtyard arched passage outside gate spaces panels displayed windows larger original ones tower house iron small gun holes beneath entrance kitchen larger hall drawing room western storey north range completed planned complete courtyard range kitchen private chambers round tower north west corner entered turret courtyard fragments remain including parts carved door surround foundations east south buildings remain probably contained stables walled garden addition extending castle sir created unusual feature walled garden similar gardens probably relatively common scotland renaissance rare survivor garden provided retreat castle intended delight entertain sir david distinguished guests started shows signs hastily completed death rectangular enclosure metres north south metres east west surrounded metres high wall north wall castle courtyard remaining decorated walls divided removed regular sections compartments metres compartment niche possibly containing statues east wall semi circular carved national symbols rose recalling scotland south wall square west wall indicating work prematurely come halt sir david death compartments alternating design sets seven carved panels occupy compartment walls decorated representation coat arms form band seven pointed stars taken arms spaces walls including inside stars intended nesting holes birds carved panels sets carved panels depict seven cardinal virtues west wall seven south seven deities east wall panel approximately metre high wide deities depicted shaped elliptical frames arts arches virtues plain describes arts panels weakest set carvings suggesting money short west wall declared arts panels finest work compares style deities contemporary carvings found suggesting mason responsible come carvings based popular series published pattern books origin numerous books brought specifically images deities derived german artist pupil initials appear carving mars arts virtues based derived paintings flemish artist widely distributed scotland deities image identical king master works spectacular display welcome scotland following marriage buildings planting complement garden bath house summer house constructed corners garden castle bath house ruined storey summer house survives intact comprises groin vaulted lower room upper chamber containing surviving example castle carved oak wall attributes design construction garden buildings based decorated gun holes summer house planting recreated 1930s original plan renaissance garden survives records fruit grown 17th century garden decorative trimmed shapes scottish english rose french planting letters spelling family breathe hope endure endure firmly interpretations symbolism garden particularly carvings repetition inspired interpretations carvings based commonplace scotland time frequently art memory memory technique associated art memory feature scottish culture court danish consort operative potential influence danish symbolic garden visited scotland noted sir aware symbolic allusions carvings correspondence brother lord discusses relationship planets metals employed search land sir david nephew 1st lord noted interest suggested garden associated seen early 17th century mystery temple describes garden place instruction remarks structure reminiscent description ancient carved walls initiation temples candidate taken sequence symbols backs suggestion observation set 15th century thought deck includes images symbols
Edzell Castle