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Mighty Tantallon Castle was built in the 1350s by a nobleman at the
height of his power. In 1354, William Douglas came into possession of
all his father’s lands, as well as those of his uncle, ‘the Good Sir
James of Douglas’, a close friend of King Robert Bruce. The estates
included the barony of North Berwick. In 1358 William was created Earl
of Douglas, by which date the builders may already have begun to build
his new stronghold.
Tantallon was the last truly great castle built in Scotland. Its
architecture harked back to the mighty stone castles of enclosure of the
13th century, such as Bothwell Castle. These were characterised by
enormously thick and high stone walls enclosing large closes, or
courtyards. Lofty stone towers projected from the great curtain, wherein
the noble life was lived.
In the 1380s the dynastic house of Douglas split into two branches,
known as the ‘Black’ and the ‘Red’. Tantallon passed to the junior line,
the ‘Red Douglases’, Earls of Angus. For the next 300 years, the earls
of Angus held sway at the castle, acting out their role as one of the
most powerful baronial families in Scotland.
During that time it endured three great sieges, in 1491, 1528 and 1651.
The last, by Oliver Cromwell’s army, resulted in such devastating
destruction that the mighty medieval fortress was abandoned to the
birds.
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We will be visiting both Tantallon Castle and
Dirleton Castle on Wednesday 2nd July,
before travelling to Lennoxlove House, home to Alexander Douglas
Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton, where we will have afternoon
tea.
Your tour ticket price includes entry to
Dirleton, Tantallon and Lennoxlove.
View Douglas History in a larger map
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