Edzell Castle gardens
The Lindsay Earls of Crawford obtained Edzell by marriage in 1358 and the castle remained with them until debts forced them to sell in 1715. They started the castle in the 15th century, and when the medieval accommodation became too cramped for them, built the extensive outbuildings to the west and north during the 16th and 17th centuries. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here (as she did almost every Scottish castle it would seem), as did her son James VI on two occasions.
The finest feature of the castle today is its walled garden. After the Lindsays sold up, the castle fell on hard times, suffering firstly at the hands of the government troops that were garrisoned there during the ’45, and later at the hands of creditors, who stripped it of anything of value, including much of the stonework, and the beech trees that once lined the drive. Despite the depredations of the last couple of centuries, the red sandstone remains are still a fine sight, are open to the (paying) public and are well worth a visit - particularly of course, the garden in summer!
("Dum spiro spero" (see the topiary in the photo) is Latin for "While I breathe, I hope"!)
Edzell Castle gardens
The Lindsay Earls of Crawford obtained Edzell by marriage in 1358 and the castle remained with them until debts forced them to sell in 1715. They started the castle in the 15th century, and when the medieval accommodation became too cramped for them, built the extensive outbuildings to the west and north during the 16th and 17th centuries. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here (as she did almost every Scottish castle it would seem), as did her son James VI on two occasions.
The finest feature of the castle today is its walled garden. After the Lindsays sold up, the castle fell on hard times, suffering firstly at the hands of the government troops that were garrisoned there during the ’45, and later at the hands of creditors, who stripped it of anything of value, including much of the stonework, and the beech trees that once lined the drive. Despite the depredations of the last couple of centuries, the red sandstone remains are still a fine sight, are open to the (paying) public and are well worth a visit - particularly of course, the garden in summer!
("Dum spiro spero" (see the topiary in the photo) is Latin for "While I breathe, I hope"!)