Doune Castle

The normal seasonal weather returned today. In spite of a bright start, as I drove up to Doune, the clouds descended and I arrived in the rain. Happy Days!

I have created a Google map, Blipped Castles of Scotland to record my visits in case anyone wants to put a place to a name or even visit for themselves. The information is quite basic just now but I hope to add some links for additional images and some notes on access etc. There will be a permanent link on my "About" page.

Situated on the promontory formed by the meeting of the River Teith and the Ardoch Burn in the district of Stirling, the site has long since been known for it's strategic importance. Soon after their invasion in the first century AD, the Romans constructed a fort to the north of the present site. The present castle was built in the late 14th century by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. Unlike most castles that survive today, Doune was conceived and constructed as a single entity with little changed since it's original construction. As such the castle was designed to meet two purposes. The provision of a residence fit for a king's brother and a stronghold, mighty enough to defend the vast estate that formed the earldom of Menteith.

The castle consists of a Gatehouse Tower, Great Hall and Kitchen Tower with a three-sided curtain wall forming a large courtyard to the south. The large windows which are found in the south curtain wall are evidence that at some time the construction of a range had been considered, but never completed.

Albany would never see completion of Doune. At his death in 1420, at the age of 80, the political maelstrom that had followed him for 50 years had left it's toll on the family name. Implicated in the death of David Duke of Rothesay, his nephew and heir to the throne in 1402 and alleged reticence to secure the release of another, James I, from captivity, it is believed that Albany had designs on the Crown himself, a role he effectively played for some 20 years before his death. For that he became known as The man who would be king. As a result, when his son inherited the governorship of Scotland, James I still disturbed by Albany's lack of action quickly disposed of Murdoch, his son and father-in-law upon his return to Scotland in 1424 and Doune Castle reverted to the Crown.

In a similar fashion to what happened with Blackness Castle sometime later in the reign of James II, Doune was now maintained by appointed royal keepers who kept the castle in readiness for a visit from the king. To do so, the income derived from the surrounding lands were put at their disposal for staffing, provisioning and repairs. It would seem from the royal accounts available that the castle was seen as a useful retreat, it's proximity to Stirling Castle and the abundant wildlife in the area making it an ideal hunting-lodge, but one not worthy of significant expenditure. It wasn't until 1581 when James VI decreed that significant repairs were required, for which the sum of £200 was apportioned. It is understood that the final bill was somewhat higher.

The Stewarts recovered ownership of the castle in 1525, when the current keeper, William Edmonstoun caused offence to James IV's widow, Queen Margaret and upon her remarriage to Henry Stewart two years later, had him removed in favour of Sir James Stewart of Beath. Bad fortune continued to blight the Stewart's however, with James killed in a street brawl in Dunblane in 1544 and his son, also James, implicated in supporting Mary Queen of Scots following her abdication in 1567. When he refused to forfeit the castle an army laid siege, the first in it's history. His surrender three days later was on the condition that the castle would not be destroyed. In time, Sir James was reinstated as keeper and created Lord Doune in 1570. His marriage to Elizabeth Stewart, daughter and heir of the Earl of Moray secured their tenure, with his heirs becoming the earls of Moray and Doune castle has remained in the family's hands ever since.

Doune Castle was last used during the Jacobite Rising of 1745, when it was held for "Bonnie" Prince Charles Edward Stewart with a garrison of 25 men. Following the Jacobite victory at Falkirk in 1746, 150 redcoats we remanded here, but the castle's effectiveness as a prison was brought into disrepute when 6 men escaped from the kitchen tower window using knotted sheets. The castle fell out of use after that and by the end of the century it was left ruinous until 1883 when the 14th Earl of Moray appointed architect Andrew Kerr to restore it.

Of course, many of you will already have seen Doune Castle. It was used extensively by Monty Python when filming The Holy Grail, including the interior shots of Camelot (it was only a model after all) and the French taunting scenes.