Craigmillar Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is three miles (4.8 km) southeast of the city center, on a low hill to the south of the modern suburb of Craigmillar. The Preston family of Craigmillar, the local feudal barons, began building the castle in the late 14th century and building works continued through the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1660, the castle was sold to Sir John Gilmour, Lord President of the Court of Session, who breathed new life into the aging castle. The Gilmours left Craigmillar in the 18th century for a more modern residence, nearby Inch House, and the castle fell into ruin. It is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument and is open to the public.
Craigmillar Castle is best known for its association with Mary, Queen of Scots. Following an illness after the birth of her son, the future James VI, Mary arrived at Craigmillar on 20 November 1566 to convalesce. Before she left on 7 December 1566, a pact known as the "Craigmillar Bond" was made, with or without her knowledge, to dispose of her husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.
Thanks and credit to Google Earth Studio for this aerial video.
Craigmillar Castle is best known for its association with Mary, Queen of Scots. Following an illness after the birth of her son, the future James VI, Mary arrived at Craigmillar on 20 November 1566 to convalesce. Before she left on 7 December 1566, a pact known as the "Craigmillar Bond" was made, with or without her knowledge, to dispose of her husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.
Thanks and credit to Google Earth Studio for this aerial video.
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00:00Craigmillar Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is 3 miles
00:124.8 kilometres southeast of the city centre, on a low hill to the south of the modern suburb of
00:18Craigmillar. The Preston family of Craigmillar, the local feudal barons, began building the castle
00:23in the late 14th century and building works continued through the 15th and 16th centuries.
00:29In 1660, the castle was sold to Sir John Gilmore, Lord President of the Court of Session,
00:34who breathed new life into the ageing castle. The Gilmores left Craigmillar in the 18th century for
00:40a more modern residence, nearby Inch House, and the castle fell into ruin. It is now in the care
00:45of Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument and is open to the public. Craigmillar
00:51Castle is best known for its association with Mary, Queen of Scots. Following an illness after
00:56the birth of her son, the future James VI, Mary arrived at Craigmillar on 20 November 1566 to
01:03convalesce. Before she left on 7 December 1566, a pact known as the Craigmillar Bond was made,
01:10with or without her knowledge, to dispose of her husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.
01:15Craigmillar is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland. The central towerhouse,
01:20or keep, is surrounded by a 15th-century courtyard wall with particularly fine,
01:25defensive features. Within this are additional ranges, and the whole is enclosed by an outer
01:30courtyard wall containing a chapel and a ducat dovecote. The lands of Craigmillar were granted
01:35to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey by King David I in the 12th century. The Preston family were
01:41first granted land in the area by King David II in 1342 and held two-thirds of the estate.
01:47In a further grant of 1374, King Robert II gave the remaining lands of Craigmillar to Sir
01:53Simon de Preston, Sheriff of Midlothian. It was Simon's son, Simon Preston, or his grandson,
01:59Sir George Preston, who began work on the towerhouse which now forms the core of the castle.
02:05This was in place by 1425, when a charter was sealed at Craigmillar by Sir John Preston.
02:11The courtyard wall was probably added by Sir William Preston, 1453, who had travelled in
02:16France and drew on continental inspiration for his new work. He also brought back the
02:21arm of St Giles, which he presented to the High Kirk of Edinburgh, where the Preston Isle is named
02:26for him. In 1479, John Stuart, Earl of Mar, brother of King James III was held prisoner at Craigmillar,
02:34accused of practicing witchcraft against the king. 5. He later died in suspicious circumstances.
02:4116th century In 1511 Craigmillar was erected into a barony, and the outer courtyard was built
02:46around this time, possibly by another Simon Preston, D.1520, Member of Parliament for
02:52Edinburgh in 1487, who had succeeded in 1478. In September 1517, during an outbreak of plague
03:00in Edinburgh, the infant James V of Scotland moved to safety at Craigmillar. His French
03:06guardian de Labaste had new locks made for his chamber and the two iron gates. And a stable was
03:11built for the king's mule. The family chapel within the outer court was first recorded in 1523.
03:17During the so-called rough wooing of Henry VIII of England, the English attempted to impose,
03:22by military force, a marriage between Edward, Prince of Wales, and the young Mary, Queen of Scots.
03:29Craigmillar Castle was burned by English troops under the Earl of Hertford on 8 May,
03:33after he had sacked Edinburgh. Sir Simon Preston, D.1569, had the castle repaired.
03:40With domestic ranges in the courtyard being remodelled, Preston served as Lord Provost
03:44of Edinburgh for several years and was a loyal supporter of Queen Mary, who appointed him to
03:49her Privy Council. That is all. Subscribe and post comments for future videos.
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