castle castle located village scotland parts castle date making oldest standing castles scotland built time earliest castle comprised modest hall house site overlooking years castle expanded according contemporary architectural ideas hall house tower house 15th century extended twice 16th century final addition refined renaissance details complemented walled garden east gardens south dating century form oldest gardens scotland offer extensive views castle largely creation held 14th century second home primary residence sold fire late 17th century followed repairs family purchased nearby house medieval castle allowed fall decay today 17th century wing remains tower collapsed care open public year history origins acquired sir marriage daughter sir sir built church stands castle family probably built original hall house possibly earlier recorded granting land monks record happened early 14th century king grandson granted turn sir sir gave lands nephew sir retained castle death years later grant confirmed king combined form single principal seat near edinburgh secondary residence james fourth lord succeeded joint created earl prior marriage deaf mute daughter newly created earl expanded existing hall house rebuilding structure suit elevated status second earl carried extensions castle building new tower south block 16th century james summoned 3rd earl accusing non payment feudal banished reached angus signed deed resigning lands compelled resign lands turn permitted castle death late earl assisted lands including return sons marry daughters son james married elizabeth succeeded 4th earl reserved mother law mary queen scots confirmed right involved planning rebellion queen resulted murder queen mary secretary failed gain momentum forced flee england end year returned july following year mary imprisoned forced scottish appointed regent scotland child king undertook extensions castle rebuilding south block extending south form present central range drew inspiration contemporary gardens england laying gardens met castle august regency came end later implicated murder queen mary husband lord executed orders young king prison lands given nephew 8th earl angus granted earl execution returned lands angus acknowledged 5th earl angus death passed william son father widow continued live husband 1st lord later 7th earl numbered 6th earl inherited grandfather treasurer scotland strong supporter stewart dynasty wars kingdoms compelled spend fortune royal interest leading financial difficulty forcing sell earl built renaissance east wing probably certainly standing inventory records luxurious furniture walled garden built improvements suitable principal residence sale continued live regained earlier high status castle badly damaged fire 11th earl consulted architect smith surveyed damage drew proposals repairing extending castle wing north east range earl sought estimates demolition tower house central range came proposals repairs carried east range completed final decline government troops stationed castle rising stay second fire caused extensive damage bought adjacent property renamed castle ceased residence east range repaired purposes including school room barracks hall castle gardens placed state care continue managed visitor attraction south east wing initially restored home houses cafe castle protected scheduled ancient monument castle walled garden category listed buildings highest level protection historic building scotland grounds surrounding parks listed inventory gardens designed landscapes national register significant gardens description castle originally comprised 13th century hall house extended 15th century 16th century central range built south tower house new inner outer courtyard walls constructed east inner courtyard wall reduced foundations base round tower porter lodge survive west inner courtyard wall remains service courtyard comprises brewery east range added 17th century south edge outer courtyard castle originally approached north entrance moved west 17th century gate railway line constructed tower house tower house measures metres metres rectangular plan lower storeys comprise oldest castle dated upper parts 15th century date original building based pieces evidence blocks masonry flat north east widening base walls indicative date collapsed south wall contained early 13th century style double window original structure type known hall house probably storeys comprising floor hall basement surrounded defensive timber enclosure 15th century rebuilding added upper floors rearranged interior vaulted including kitchen spiral inserted heightened wall topped spaces objects dropped attackers base wall tower suffered major collapses today basement survives small section south east wall standing height central range central range begun possibly storey building containing great hall fragments building remain south entrance tower house blocked replaced ground floor entrance east new tower broad spiral built south east corner originally topped conical roof gave access upper floors tower central range 4th earl rebuilt block extending south form new apartments block forming present storey central range includes vaulted kitchen cellar basement rooms floor west apartment accessed garden south west private led chamber suggesting earl apartments upper storey timber floor missing comprised apartments including exterior block decorated horizontal decorative strip masonry known string course floor window decorated carved stone similar style windows edinburgh castle borders built regency east range east range comprises long narrow building short projecting wing south east castle floor wing occupied long gallery accessed central range stables long gallery entertaining recorded containing pictures furniture south east wing chambers floor linked spiral floor room 17th century painted ceiling decorated fruit foliage south east wing crow step corner east window long gallery decorated roof 18th century date lower original resulting loss triangular topped windows gardens gardens castle garden dates time 4th earl succeeded comprises broad shaped orchard laid recently extent rediscovered following excavations 1970s parts garden use market garden archaeological investigations undertaken determine lower depicted map existed foundations found remains precisely dated thought constructed second half 16th century high retaining walls rebuilt laid grass excavations revealed evidence historic planting schemes 16th century shape house located south containing nesting boxes metres structure rises steps divided rat courses projecting ribs prevented rats climbing inside 17th century walled garden covers square metres acres walls metres high lies west outer courtyard originally entered doors south west north east corners doors carved douglas heart emblem west door led east door led carved date initials earl kitchen garden located bee located walls summer house built south east garden wall demolished 18th century botanist supplied exotic plants including persian edinburgh forerunner later entrance west wall dates second world war garden use market garden pig centre garden early 17th century mounted 19th century base brought 1970s possibly south west scotland originally named house built 17th century dated enlarged owner earl purchased finally moving dilapidated castle 12th earl consulted improvements uncertain proposals executed doorway surround style 20th century house disused redeveloped private flats 1990s house category listed extensive gardens included surviving metre high built 13th earl visible estate
Aberdour Castle