Thirlestane Castle
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Thirlestane Castle is a castle set in extensive parklands near Lauder in the Borders of Scotland, known, strangely, as Castlehill, as although it stood upon raised ground it was situated in the valley of the Leader Water. It is the ancient seat of the Earls and Duke of Lauderdale, and has been in the ownership of the Maitland family since 1587, the first construction commencing two years later.
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[edit] Family
The Maitlands came to Britain from Normandy with William the Conqueror in 1066, originally settling in Northumberland. They gained power and influence as a result of military service but largely due to their contributions to law and the arts in the 16th century. William Maitland of Lethington, was Secretary to Mary Queen of Scots, his younger brother John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane was appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland in 1590 and his son was created the 1st Earl of Lauderdale.
[edit] History of the castle
The history of the castle dates back to before the 13th century, when a large fort or castle was built on Castle Hill near the Leader Water defending the approach through Lauderdale to Edinburgh from the south. Upon its redundancy in the early 16th century it passed to Robert Lauder of that Ilk who gave it in dowry to his daughter, as in The Great Seal of Scotland (number 1186) dated at Edinburgh 1 July 1532, The King confirmed upon George Wedderhede and Alison Lauder his spouse the lands of Castle hill in the parish of Lauder in the Lordship of Lauderdale, Berwickshire, to be held of them and their legitimate heirs male procreated of their bodies. This couple, and their son, were all murdered in feuds, she in 1547. Records are wanting but presumably the lands reverted to her parents, her mother being Alison Cranstoun. They both died in the second half of 1567 leaving only small grandchildren as heirs. The next entry in The Great Seal shows the Cranstouns selling Castle hill on 27 January 1587 (The Great Seal) to Sir John Maitland (d.1595).
It was Sir John Maitland who built first a large square keep or tower house upon the foundations and walls of the original fort in 1590. This building was to replace the Maitland's original but now decaying Thirlestane castle, a Peel tower situated a mile to the south. Its ruins are still extant, and are shown on the Ordnance Survey map of the area.
Further alterations and extensions were to follow. John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale was one of the most important Scottish figures of the late 17th century, being appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in 1660, a position carrying unrivalled power and influence. He employed Sir William Bruce to transform the castle into a residence suitable for conducting the affairs of state. Between 1670 and 1676 the substantial alterations included the addition of the two front towers and the grand staircase, in addition to extensive internal modifications creating lavish staterooms with magnificent plasterwork ceilings.
By the 19th century, in more peaceful times, the castle took on the role of a Scottish country mansion for the Earls of Lauderdale. In 1840 the Edinburgh architects, David Bryce and William Burn were engaged to design extensions to the castle. Their additions consist of two large wings flanking the central keep and a south wing, constructed around a central courtyard, housing new kitchens, pantries, laundries and servants' quarters.
[edit] The castle today
Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew inherited the Castle in 1972 from his maternal grandmother, the Countess of Lauderdale. At this time, the castle was in a serious state of disrepair, requiring extensive renovation. In 1984 the castle was gifted to a charitable trust established to ensure its preservation, and major repairs were carried out, assisted by financial grants awarded by the Historic Buildings Council and National Heritage Memorial Fund.
In addition to the grounds, the castle itself and the magnificent interiors, Thirlestane is noted for fine collections of paintings, furniture, porcelain and an historic toy collection. The castle is open to visitors from April until September . At the castle there is rumoured to be a secret corridor and that people who walk down never return.
