castle castle ruined medieval castle edinburgh scotland situated miles south east city centre low hill south modern suburb preston family local feudal barons began building castle late 14th century building works continued 15th 16th centuries castle sold sir lord president alterations left 18th century castle fell ruin care best known association mary queen scots following illness birth son future mary arrived november left december pact known bond knowledge dispose husband lord best preserved medieval castles scotland central tower house surrounded 15th century courtyard wall particularly fine defensive features additional ranges enclosed outer courtyard wall containing chapel history origins lands granted monks abbey king david 12th century preston family granted land area king held estate grant king gave remaining lands sir sheriff simon son grandson sir began work tower house forms core castle place charter sealed sir courtyard wall probably added sir travelled france drew continental inspiration new work brought arm presented preston aisle named late earl brother king held prisoner accused practising king later died suspicious circumstances 16th century erected outer courtyard built time possibly member parliament edinburgh succeeded september outbreak plague edinburgh infant scotland moved safety french guardian new locks chamber iron gates stable built king family chapel outer court recorded called rough henry viii england english attempted impose military force marriage alliance edward prince wales young mary queen scots burned english troops earl baron sir castle repaired domestic ranges courtyard sir simon served lord edinburgh years loyal supporter appointed queen mary stayed twice september november december traditionally said slept small kitchen tower house likely occupied larger accommodation relatively new east range second stay mary poor health following illness october suggested unpopular husband lord removed divorce means agreement bond signed mary secretary state nobles including bond survive set intent remove mary clear unhappy conspiracy probably unaware plot kill husband initially intended lodge returned edinburgh opted stay field town murdered february queen mary flight england regent base siege held supporters exiled queen king later visited guest sir death sir passed distant cousin son sold castle family bought sir purchased neighbouring estate inch time royalist rewarded following lord president west range provide modern accommodation early 18th century left castle west claimed daughters continued live castle rest family left formed romantic feature park inch estate ruined antiquarian poet wrote castle popular tourist attraction late 18th century drawn numerous artists proposal building use queen_victoria forward came victoria visited castle restoration work undertaken owner state care maintained castle category listed building highest level protection historic building scotland scheduled ancient monument grounds castle included inventory gardens designed landscapes national register historic gardens description core 14th century plan tower house built rocky wrapped 15th century courtyard wall ranges buildings south east east west wall lower outer wall broad outer courtyard contained gardens chapel gardens lay south outline fish pond seen tower house storey tower forms castle originally stood measures metres metres projecting wing metres metres south walls metres thick second fourth storeys vaulted ceilings tower built edge rock original entrance door protected natural rock spanned wooden bridge filled curtain wall built door arms preston family leads entrance guard room probably murder holes missiles dropped attackers gained entry ground floor level timber dividing wall doors end later additions second floor hall kitchen occupying later passages connecting east west ranges hall large carved stone fireplace timber ceiling probably painted kitchen replaced larger 16th century east range converted bedroom smaller fireplace inserted large kitchen larger windows added storey accessed spiral contained room vault hall ceiling kitchen lord bedroom original private chamber building stairs continue access walks stone roof storey added sixteenth century containing single chamber exterior castle timber viewing platforms overlooking gardens south looking east countryside inner courtyard century curtain wall courtyard metres metres thick externally curtain wall measures metres metres round towers located corner gate located base south east tower towers shaped gun holes intended decoration defence round arched gate north wall arms preston family royal arms scotland walls defended spaces missiles dropped attackers walks access entire length wall inside wall traces windows suggest south range buildings courtyard courtyard stone trough runs curtain wall allowing water brought castle east range east range occupies south east east sides inner courtyard original east range contemporary courtyard wall rebuilt 16th century linked tower house new broad spiral building south east tower house comprises chambers floor occupied possible prison corridor connects tower large vaulted east range accessible straight courtyard depiction preston family arms supported appears door east range vaulted containing blocked gate courtyard wall long gallery occupied second floor lower walls gallery survive west range west range entirely rebuilt provide suite modern accommodation suit sir john position senior judge ground floor contained large central drawing room dining room large windows carved stone fireplace room plaster ceilings decorative features north kitchen south chamber wine cellar floor new built connecting west range tower house door tower classical 20th century plaque erected descendant bearing arms sir wife west range internal floor gone large windows blocked outer court gardens outer walls dating early mid 16th century smaller formidable inner walls larger area round tower north east corner gun holes house upstairs family chapel built dedicated burial aisle family gardens occupied east west parts courtyard western terrace overlooked large windows west range barn north west courtyard converted presbyterian church village south castle informal gardens bases 16th century viewing towers remaining corners walled enclosure fish pond shaped like letter preston nationally significant archaeological garden feature rarity 1820s plan drawn lay picturesque landscape gardens castle incorporated queen mary tree supposedly planted mary queen scots woodland castle estate dates early mid 19th century
Craigmillar Castle