Huntly Castle (7)
Following the downfall and death of the 4th Earl of Huntly and the execution of his eldest son and heir, Huntly Castle was stripped of its riches, which were sent to the Palace of Holyrood. The Earl's body was taken to Edinburgh and propped up so that he could be tried and forfeited for rebellion! The Earl's second son George was initially imprisoned at Kinneil House, before being attainted and sentenced to death for treason in 1563. He was imprisoned at Dunbar Castle where he remained until the marriage of Queen Mary to Darnley in 1565, when he was released. His lands and dignities were eventually restored and in 1567 he was made Lord Chancellor.
While the contents of the castle were pillaged following the death of the 4th Earl and execution of his eldest son, the fabric of the castle seems to have suffered only minor damage. This engraving shows the palace block from the south, with the south-west round tower on the left. There was another quite substantial tower on the north-east angle, which was replaced in 1602, when the upper levels of the castle were also remodeled. There has been discussion as to whether the older north-east tower was destroyed and replaced after the Battle of Corrichie in 1562 and the grand doorway inserted into it in 1602, however examination of the masonry has shown that tower and doorway are all of the same date.
Huntly Castle (7)
Following the downfall and death of the 4th Earl of Huntly and the execution of his eldest son and heir, Huntly Castle was stripped of its riches, which were sent to the Palace of Holyrood. The Earl's body was taken to Edinburgh and propped up so that he could be tried and forfeited for rebellion! The Earl's second son George was initially imprisoned at Kinneil House, before being attainted and sentenced to death for treason in 1563. He was imprisoned at Dunbar Castle where he remained until the marriage of Queen Mary to Darnley in 1565, when he was released. His lands and dignities were eventually restored and in 1567 he was made Lord Chancellor.
While the contents of the castle were pillaged following the death of the 4th Earl and execution of his eldest son, the fabric of the castle seems to have suffered only minor damage. This engraving shows the palace block from the south, with the south-west round tower on the left. There was another quite substantial tower on the north-east angle, which was replaced in 1602, when the upper levels of the castle were also remodeled. There has been discussion as to whether the older north-east tower was destroyed and replaced after the Battle of Corrichie in 1562 and the grand doorway inserted into it in 1602, however examination of the masonry has shown that tower and doorway are all of the same date.