Douglas Castle

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Today the remains of Castle Douglas

Douglas Castle is located approximately one kilometer northeast of the fantastic South Lanarkshire Douglas community in the southwest of Scotland. The original castle from the 13th century was destroyed several times and rebuilt, to a mansion built in the 18th century. As this was also destroyed in 1938, was not followed by reconstruction. From the original castle and all of the following alterations and extensions today is only a single corner tower from the 17th century.

History

The first, built by the Douglas family castle was probably built before 1290 at this point and consisted of a combination of stone and wood. During the Scottish War of Independence, the castle is first invaded and occupied in the spring of 1307 British troops under Lord Clifford. James Douglas, a companion of Robert the Bruce, recaptured his family home when he stormed the castle on Palm Sunday of the same year, while the English occupiers attended a church service. All occupants were killed, the bodies then thrown into a cellar and burned down the entire castle. This approach has been called " Douglas ' larder " ( pantry Douglas ) is known. Robert the Bruce rewarded the loyalty of the Douglas family with many lands; The castle was rebuilt and James' nephew received the hereditary title Earl of Douglas.

In the 15th century the power of the then " Black " said line of Douglas rose to such an extent that they even threatened the monarchy of the Stuarts. 1455 James II led an expedition against the rebellious James, 9th Earl of Douglas and beat him in the battle of Arkinholm. The " black line " of Douglas lost all lands and titles; Douglas Castle was sacked and pillaged.

The younger and also illegitimate "red line" of Douglas, who bore the title of Earl of Angus at that time, were in this debate on the side of James II as a reward for it was George, 4th Earl of Angus, the land and the ownership of former Earls of Douglas awarded. The castle was rebuilt shortly thereafter, but no longer used as a residence.

In June 1574 visited James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, at that time regent for the eight years of James VI. , The castle. He wanted to check what repairs are necessary to make Douglas Castle habitable again.

In 1703 was Archibald Douglas, 3rd Marquess of Douglas, was appointed at the age of 9 years to the Duke of Douglas. He chose Douglas Castle to his ancestral home and dropped it off and rebuild. From this period came a gatehouse and an enclosed courtyard with a corner tower. Except for this corner tower the entire castle was destroyed by a fire in 1755. From 1757 he began the construction of a castellated mansion. The architects under the leadership of Robert Adam planned a building that would have been the biggest castle in Scotland after its completion. The five -storey building should adorn the rear façade round towers in the front and square towers. The whole system should fit harmoniously into a huge park that the entire valley and a stream with included. As Archibald Douglas died in 1761, the building was not even completed half. As he had no heirs, followed by a year of litigation, which spawned James Douglas - Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton as the winner and new owner of Douglas Castle. The construction works are completed, the building never completed according to plans by Robert Adam.

Around 1930 allowed Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home to combat digging for coal in the surrounding lands, even to the high unemployment in the region. Through the excavations however there were so serious damage to the substance of the mansion, so that in 1938 a complete demolition had to be done. A reconstruction took place.

Today only, are the ruins of a round tower from the construction phase 1703-1755. He is about nine meters high and contains remnants of three storeys. The foundation is a small cellar, can be found in the glazed tiles. In the time of the manor, of which no more traces exist, the tower was obtained as Folly in the expanded park. The ruined tower is protected as a ' Category C listed building ".

Trivia

Sir Walter Scott used the environment as well as the early history of Douglas Castle as an inspiration for his novel Castle Dangerous. The title of this novella is still occasionally used for the castle.

The manor house was from the mid 1930s until the destruction of 1938, the home of the future Prime Minister Alec Douglas -Home.