castle castle medieval stronghold near village district central scotland castle sited wooded bend flows lies miles north west flows upstream miles north west town lies edge fringe scottish highlands recent research shown castle originally built thirteenth century probably damaged scottish wars independence rebuilt present form late 14th century duke albany son king scotland regent scotland death stronghold survived relatively unchanged complete castle traditionally thought result single period construction time castle passed crown albany son executed royal hunting lodge house later 16th century property castle saw military action wars kingdoms rising century late 17th century 18th century castle ruined restoration works carried 1880s prior passing state care 20th century maintained status builder reflected current ideas royal castle building planned courtyard ranges buildings northern north western buildings completed comprise large tower house entrance containing rooms lord family separate tower containing kitchen guest rooms linked great hall stonework late 14th century minor repairs carried restoration 1880s replaced timber roofs internal floors interior fittings history site confluence burn fortified romans 1st century remains visible ground ditches south present castle site earlier fortification derived meaning fort suggests earliest identifiable work castle dates thirteenth century assumed present form creative productive periods scottish medieval architecture numerous castles built including son king reigned brother king reigned created granted lands castle stands building started time castle partially complete charter sealed robert appointed regent elderly father continued hold effective power reign brother created duke albany successor james captured english albany regent time number charters issued suggest castle favoured residence royal retreat albany died albany regency passed son ransom james finally paid english king returned taking immediate steps gain control kingdom albany sons imprisoned treason executed castle royal possession appointed captain keeper served retreat hunting lodge scottish monarchs house margaret denmark widowed respectively regent scotland infant son married 1st lord descendant albany brother sir captain castle sir james son james created lord lord son james married 2nd earl castle came seat keepers owned 20th century mary queen scots reigned stayed occasions occupying suite rooms kitchen held forces loyal mary brief civil war followed forced garrison surrendered regent 4th earl day blockade deputy presided torture interrogation messenger october moon carrying letters mary queen scots king visited occasion authorised spent repairs improvements works carried master mason supervision master work crown scotland plot james discovered king surprised conspirators included prison garrison minister religious plans imprisoned fellow minister escaped constable castle subsequently imprisoned aiding royalist 1st occupied castle wars kingdoms rising occupation scotland skirmish took place sir troops castle garrisoned government troops rising repairs ordered rising rising castle occupied charlie prison government troops captured prisoners held rooms kitchen escaped climbing window included author minister later moved american colonies united_states declaration independence ruin restoration castle deteriorated 18th century ruin remained 1880s 14th earl began repair works timber roofs replaced interiors including lord hall installed castle maintained having donated predecessor organisation 20th earl open public castle scheduled ancient monument category listed building highest levels protection nationally important built heritage scotland description occupies strategic site close geographical centre scotland miles crossroads scotland site naturally defended sides sloping ground rivers east west castle forms irregular pentagon plan buildings north north west sides courtyard entered north passage beneath tower containing principal rooms castle courtyard sets stone external stairs later additions lead lord hall tower adjacent great hall second tower west main approach north defended earthworks comprising ditches wall outside castle walls vaulted passage traditionally said lead castle fact 18th century ice house openings lower castle walls entrance gate west relatively large windows upper storeys windows south wall suggest buildings intended courtyard built stonework sandstone rubble lighter stone lord tower principal tower gatehouse rectangular plan metres metres metres high projecting round tower north east corner entrance comprises lord hall storeys chambers located entrance passage vaulted passage metres long defended sets timber doors iron remains passage ground floor basement round tower direct communication ground floor lord hall occupies floor accessed enclosed courtyard hall vaulted unusual double fireplace floor tiles timber gallery additions 1880s originally thought connecting door great hall date accepted original rooms hall level include chamber round tower hatch small chamber south wall hall courtyard murder hole hall north window allows objects dropped attackers passage hall second hall forming suite rooms south wall overlooking courtyard contains niche gives access mural passages leading walkway curtain wall timber ceiling hall timber floors roof 1880s upper parts stonework repairs dating great hall kitchen tower west lord tower great hall metres metres metres high timber roof 19th century replacement hall fireplace presumably heated central fire means like modern roof details original roof construction known restoration large windows light hall stairs lead ground level hall accessed courtyard triangular lobby turn links hall means large serving elliptical arches unusual period kitchen tower virtually tower house right metres metres vaulted kitchen hall level cellar best appointed castle scotland date oven metre wide fireplace turret added possibly replacing timber leads lobby storeys guest rooms include suite plus audience chamber suitable royal visitors courtyard curtain wall projecting stones south wall kitchen block known pointed arched windows south curtain wall suggest ranges buildings planned large eastern window intended chapel recorded chapel dedicated 8th century monk located lack foundations suggest large building castle foundations exist excavated september revealing structure interpreted oven south wall central metres deep curtain wall metres thick metres high walkway wall protected sides carried pitched roofs hall gatehouse steep steps open round turrets located corner projections wall square turret located gate west wall interpretation layout lord tower secure private set rooms probably intended sole use lord family lines defence architectural historian interpreted arrangement product 14th century period lords required defend castles means mercenaries earlier feudal system simpson suggested lord designed tower potentially rebellious garrison interpretation longer widely accepted historians castle instead seen development integrated courtyard buildings royal palace constructed 15th early 16th century layout similarities contemporary castles appears scales buildings period fiction drama castle featured literary works including 17th century ballad earl murray relates murder 2nd earl earl sir novel protagonist brought castle scott romantic novel describes picturesque structure half ruined turrets castle location mgm historical film featured bbc adaptation featured location castle set series game present adaptation fire series novels castle stand fictional castle adaptation series novels holy british comedy film holy parody legends king arthur team filmed location scotland film producers gained permission film scenes scottish castles permission lord film later withdrew permission leaving producers little time find new locations instead decided use different parts castle depict fictional castles film relying tight framing shots maintain illusion scenes featuring castle include start film king arthur approach east wall castle argue soldiers garrison song dance routine knights round table filmed great hall kitchen appear castle sir chased seductive girls wedding disrupted sir filmed courtyard great hall rabbit scene filmed courtyard castles filming privately owned appears castle end film briefly wales dvd version holy includes documentary search holy filming locations sites filming castle place pilgrimage fans film annual day held castle
Doune Castle