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CASTLES
TOWNS
ABBEYS
VILLAGES
INVASIONS
CATHEDRALS
PALACES
BATTLES
WHISKY
CITIES
CHURCHES
REBELLIONS
GOLF
CLUBS
STATELY HOMES |
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With more than 900 entries in alphabetical order,
The Historical Handbook To Scotland provides a factual overview of the country's
historical landscape from the Roman occupation to the present
day. Integrated among its largest cities and smallest
villages, that number more than 260
locations, are some 500
historical buildings. These range from the most
strategically defended castles to the more venerable ruined
abbeys that stand as testaments to the struggles and strife of
the nation, during which many of the structures were designed
and doctrines upheld. Between these are the 90 battles and periods of
conflict. The comparatively modern history of more than
100 distilleries and golf
clubs serves to reflect the industrialisation and
urbanisation of 19th and 20th century Scotland, and like most
of the other entries, start with the subject name, region,
location and earliest history, eventually ending with a modern day summary that the reader
can experience first-hand. |
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MORAY
Positioned at the junction of
the rivers Avon and Spey 12 miles SW of Craigellachie. As a Z plan
castle and seat of the Grants from 1546, it was built near the site
of a previous castle and was greatly altered and enlarged, with its
cape house erected by Patrick Grant in 1602. Further enlargements in
1845, making it a castellated mansion, were carried out by the
father of Sir George Macpherson Grant who succeeded him in 1850 and
later became MP for Elgin.
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STIRLING
One of the classic victories of Medieval warfare fought between
the Scots under Robert the Bruce and the English under Edward
II. Following the siege of Stirling Castle, the key to the Highlands,
Edward led around 100,000 men to its relief. With around 30,000
men Bruce chose his ground carefully near the Bannockburn, which
along with its marsh and the Scottish pike men proved fatal to
the English horse, before the appearance of a Scottish reserve
force caused panic broken ranks and eventual defeat. This stratagem
was recalled in Sir Walter Scott's 'Marmion':
The landscape like a furnace
glowed,
And far as eer the eye was borne,
The lances waved like autumn corn.
In battle four beneath their eye,
The forces of King Robert lie
And one below the hill was laid,
Reserved for rescue and for aid.
The victory forced the abandonment of the invasion
and paved the way for the Declaration of Arbroath six years later.
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ABERDEENSHIRE
On the left bank of the Dee 14 miles WSW of Aberdeen. Appearing
as a chateau-like structure, Crathes is picturesquely situated
in fine grounds which once formed part of the Royal Forest of
Drum and as the Land of Leys, were granted in a charter by Robert
the Bruce to his erstwhile supporter Alexander de Burnard in 1324.
The present four-storey L plan castle with its pepperpot turrets
was started in 1553 and completed in 1596 by Alexander Burnett
of Ley, whose initials, along with those of his wife Jean Gordon,
are inscribed above a doorway in the east wall. Second only to
its traditional exterior are the embellishments of its distinctive
interior, which include its painted ceilings depicting the nine
nobles, the nine muses and the green Lady ceiling dating from
1600. In the 19th century a plain wing was added which was reduced
in size following a fire in 1966.
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EAST LOTHIAN
Situated in Dirleton Village 3 miles NW of
North Berwick is a coastal fortification which was started by
the Norman De Vaux family as a 13th century enclosure with towers.
In 1298 Edward I's invasion force was harassed by Scots from Dirleton,
resulting in a siege and its surrender to Bishop Anthony Beck
(Bishop of Durham), who partly demolished it. By 1350 the castle
and lands had passed to the Halyburton family, from whom they
were seized by William Earl of Douglas, in 1363 an act of defiance
against David II. Dirleton started to look like something resembling
today's structure when the eastern ranges and the south wall entrance
were built in the 15th century, followed by the construction of
the
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