ruined castle island perth local authority area scotland possibly built castle location military action wars scottish independence 14th century castle granted uncle 1st earl douglas remained douglas hands years mary queen scots imprisoned forced queen escaping help family queen inherited title earl moved away castle bought sir castle focal point garden residence today remains castle protected category listed building care accessible summer public ferry history early history castle constructed year old king alexander iii scotland forcibly brought war scottish independence invading english army held castle named lies strategically important position towns edinburgh perth parts present fortification curtain wall date time built occupying english castle captured scots end 13th century possibly forces english forces laid siege garrison relieved year siege broken sir king reigned known visited castle following bruce death english invaded laid siege support according 14th century chronicle john english attempted flood castle building dam outflow water level rose month captain english force sir left attend festival scotland defenders took opportunity come castle night damaged dam causing collapse flood english camp story doubted later historians strengthened 14th early 15th century addition storey tower house according 14th century making oldest tower houses scotland substantially survives king reigned granted castle sir husband niece 14th century castle served state prison prior king held 5th earl douglas half 15th century archbishop died captivity castle 16th century mary queen scots reigned visited guest sir held interview preacher mary returned prisoner june escape battle june mary surrendered opposed marriage taken given custody sir spending captivity living early 16th century tower south east corner castle aside sir william household included mother mother mary half brother brother young orphaned relative mary fell ill arrival july twins conceived days later forced queen scots favour infant son james mary recovered autumn winter gradually won cause contemporary wrote george fantasy love night escape stole keys let mary dressed servant castle rowed lake awaited fled castle scotland said haunted mary spirit english earl northumberland held fleeing scotland following failure north captured earl confined sent england execution sir succeeded 6th earl title inherited properties including castle frequently sir son built house shore known replaced island castle legal centre estate estate bought sir royal architect scotland bruce built nearby house lake shore principal axis house garden distant castle finally demolished north bruce site buildings classical style erected scotland longer dwelling preserved bruce picturesque focus gardens recent years fallen ruin 18th century ruins rubbish removed estate passed graham family 18th century 19th century occupy given state care managed today castle reached person ferry operated summer months remains castle protected scheduled ancient monument category listed building highest level protection historic building scotland description castle outer enclosure little trace remains originally took entire area present wooded considerably larger island formed early 19th century outflow enters town led substantial lowering water level castle comprises rectangular courtyard surrounded curtain wall tower house corner round tower projecting opposite corner foundations demolished ranges buildings remain sides courtyard outer court earth bank shows position walls remains visible structures tower house tower house west corner enclosure measures feet feet originally storeys roof timber floors gone lowest level vaulted basement vaulted kitchen hall floor chambers linked spiral tower tower round tower added south east corner ancient curtain wall 16th century tower vaulted basement defended gun hole small rooms lower room window archaeological findings minor excavation found steps stone provided access great hall tower 16th century pottery animal bones found metres debris near
Loch Leven Castle