semi ruined century fortress located kilometres east scotland sits atop opposite bass rock looking medieval curtain wall castle constructed scotland comprises single wall blocking sides naturally protected sea cliffs built mid 14th century 1st earl douglas passed illegitimate son later created despite remained property descendants history besieged king successor extensive damage saw action invasion scotland severely damaged sold douglas lord ruin today care construction singular construction scotland defences comprising single large wall securing coastal south east north east north west approaches naturally defended steep sea cliffs protected relatively small defensive walls south west massive curtain wall blocks end forms inner courtyard curtain wall built local red sandstone tower end heavily fortified gatehouse centre provided residential accommodation north range buildings containing hall completed main castle courtyard metres total buildings castle provided square metres accommodation form follows 12th century castles castle curtain wall castle type built scotland smaller tower house increasingly popular example built time cousin modest tower similarities courtyard castles dates late 14th century entered passage beneath strong tower curtain wall curtain wall metres high metres thick metres long small chambers walls stairs arched ceilings walk walk beneath 16th century curtain wall connects towers northwest tower known douglas tower circular plan metres west collapsed seven storeys high tower formed lord containing private accommodation connecting hall north range lowest storey pit prison timber chambers square vaulted plan curved face metres originally consisting storeys reduced siege stone large gun ports added basement time floor tower designed access south east wall wall built central gatehouse tower square metres metres high contained storeys chambers internal walls floors missing main entrance ran passage protected pairs doors holes ceiling enabling defenders drop missiles corner turrets facing courtyard 16th century spiral gives access head curtain wall entrance originally pointed arched gateway flanked round towers defensive outer gate added early 14th century destroyed siege fragments seen siege facade gatehouse rebuilt gun ports ground level gateway corridor narrowed rebuilding covered remains earlier round towers narrowed main gate gave tower rounded corners additional strength inner court north range buildings metres connected douglas tower western section dates 14th century comprises remains great hall lord low hall labourers later divided form marks hall pitched roof seen inside wall douglas tower 16th century eastern section contained private chambers partially collapsed sea small section walls remains east contains gate giving access sea cliffs metres deep excavated 19th century outer court alongside curtain wall deep rock cut ditch larger second ditch metres away defining outer court castle outer ditch suggests conceal 16th century defensive positions allowing covering fire trench notes sir king master works noted military engineer built scotland known present king siege worked stone fronted mound ran outside ditch metre section outer wall survives south end terminating storey round tower tower gun ports built prior siege inspired new artillery defences nearby castle 17th century type house building outer court outer ditch 17th century triangular artillery defence remains smaller ditch history map area dated shows site possibly corruption din high fronted fortress including possession time early history nephew companion sir returned scotland france claim inheritance chief douglas murdering godfather sir william undisputed head created earl douglas clear douglas came possess correspondence refers castle douglas tenant isabella appears built present castle shortly shortly elevation reflect new found status intended status symbol followed medieval curtain wall type time superseded tower house continued hold lands tenants earl resigned title favour son home sister law mistress angus mother illegitimate son earl close friend bass constable castle office held 2nd earl douglas died claimed lands confirmed right live attempts agreement parliament april recognised earl angus mother heir north surrounding stayed despite earl claim castle passed outright douglas family inherited illegitimate son earl douglas inherited mother start division grim head main line known black married mary daughter king isabella widow executed royal enemy alexander lord isles held reconciliation king james years later main residence rebellion death raided lands leading retaliation months death king granted 4th earl brother led royal force defeated battle person bell cat 5th earl turned royal house angus struck deal england scotland october besieged guns sent edinburgh primitive type hand gun angus submitted castle suffer extensive damage angus favour chancellor scotland siege 6th earl angus married widow daughter regent scotland infant son couple unsuccessfully young sparking civil war regency handed duke albany seized returned following year angus peace angus support henry_viii england staged virtual coup état taking custody young king chancellor sixteen year old escaped joining mother pronounced angus north angus instead retreated england castle seized king angus managed return stronghold october king james laid siege defended angus servant angus remained borrowed guns castle held french garrison according guns supplied captain partner great double quarter powder gunners bullets james left hostages pledge guns castle bombarded cannon days king guns brought close walls substantive damage deep outer ditch king lifted siege returned edinburgh point angus captured king artillery principal gunner killed angus fled england leaving castle james having received supplies reinforcements angus terms surrendered castle retained royal fortress death angus returned recovered repair damage sustained siege king set rebuilding strengthening castle sir king secretary keeper organised strengthening repair works castle given king eldest illegitimate son james soon installed captain surviving accounts period record master mason carrying repairs direction king master works gatehouse rebuilt strengthened wide gun holes punched walls tower added curtain wall strengthen great curtain wall chambers passages filled masonry seen today described operation king caused come war left waste passages passages maid work later 16th century angus return contact henry_viii allowed sir english ambassador scotland reside attempts negotiate marriage infant mary queen scots edward prince wales claimed earl invaded scotland ensuing war rough bypassed english army earl english sympathies castle listed places burnt returning english army contemporary sources left angus finally imprisoned castle changed sides support scottish cause gunners rewarded august firing english ships engagement angus died january castle seized queen regent mary guise given repairs carried following year keeper garrison seven horsemen soldiers 4th earl took control behalf nephew young 8th earl angus following year mary queen scots gave bass son younger bass appointment followed surrender sir charged murder queen mary favourite march mary visited november record captain castle following death 8th earl lived little castle 17th century period peace saw military action douglas family remained catholic wrath opposed charles attempts interfere captured william newly created douglas edinburgh english civil war forces invaded scotland taking control south country victory september february found lines communication attack small group based group led comprised men despite retaliation send troops general artillery scotland lay siege charles_ii kingston february siege days bombardment cannon breach douglas tower defenders compelled surrender quarter granted recognition bravery siege left ruins repaired inhabited siege interesting commonwealth land forces supported later history 12th earl angus forced gambling debts father consolidate estates ruins sold sir president owned bass properties area allowed castle decay certain extent stone sir described castle length epic poem restoration carried late 19th century castle handed descendant sir care category listed building scheduled ancient monument
Tantallon Castle