Huntington Tower Castle Perth
Huntingtower Castle was known as the House of Ruthven for the first one hundred and fifty years of its existence. Home to the Ruthven family, in 1480 the two Ruthven inherited the lands where the castle now sits and may be the reason for the castles unusual design.
In the early 1500's the gatehouse, the oldest part of the castle, was converted into a three story residential tower, now known as the eastern tower. It was also during this time or soon after that the western tower, also a three story residential tower, was built just nine feet away from the eastern tower. The only connection between the two towers was a wooden bridge located below the level of battlements.
Mary, Queen of Scots, visited Huntingtower Castle for a few days in 1565, while on her honeymoon with Darnley. Later, in 1582 4th Lord Ruthven, now occupying Huntingtower Castle with his family, was involved in a plot to kidnap Mary's, son James VI and later did so. The kidnapping is now know as the -Raid of Ruthven'. Lord Ruthven and his coconspirators hoped to gain power through controlling the King and held him at the Castle for ten months before he escaped. King James VI initially forgave Ruthven, but after a second attempt to overthrow him James had Ruthven executed and his property was forfeited to the crown.
Huntingtower Castle and its land were returned to the Ruthven family in 1586, but this was short lived because brothers Alexander and John Ruthven were implicated in a plot to kill King James VI. The brothers were executed and the King seized all there estates, abolished the name Ruthven, and decreed that any successors would not be able to hold titles or land. It was at this time that the -House of Ruthven' ceased to exist and the castle was renamed Hunting tower Castle.
Huntingtower remain in the possession of the crown until it was given to the family of Murray of Tullibardine in1643. The castle became neglected in the later occupation of John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl, and when his wife died in 1767 it was abandoned. In 1805 Huntingtower Castle was sold and used for housing cloth factory workers and in 1912 the castle was taken into state care.
Huntington Tower Castle Perth
Huntingtower Castle was known as the House of Ruthven for the first one hundred and fifty years of its existence. Home to the Ruthven family, in 1480 the two Ruthven inherited the lands where the castle now sits and may be the reason for the castles unusual design.
In the early 1500's the gatehouse, the oldest part of the castle, was converted into a three story residential tower, now known as the eastern tower. It was also during this time or soon after that the western tower, also a three story residential tower, was built just nine feet away from the eastern tower. The only connection between the two towers was a wooden bridge located below the level of battlements.
Mary, Queen of Scots, visited Huntingtower Castle for a few days in 1565, while on her honeymoon with Darnley. Later, in 1582 4th Lord Ruthven, now occupying Huntingtower Castle with his family, was involved in a plot to kidnap Mary's, son James VI and later did so. The kidnapping is now know as the -Raid of Ruthven'. Lord Ruthven and his coconspirators hoped to gain power through controlling the King and held him at the Castle for ten months before he escaped. King James VI initially forgave Ruthven, but after a second attempt to overthrow him James had Ruthven executed and his property was forfeited to the crown.
Huntingtower Castle and its land were returned to the Ruthven family in 1586, but this was short lived because brothers Alexander and John Ruthven were implicated in a plot to kill King James VI. The brothers were executed and the King seized all there estates, abolished the name Ruthven, and decreed that any successors would not be able to hold titles or land. It was at this time that the -House of Ruthven' ceased to exist and the castle was renamed Hunting tower Castle.
Huntingtower remain in the possession of the crown until it was given to the family of Murray of Tullibardine in1643. The castle became neglected in the later occupation of John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl, and when his wife died in 1767 it was abandoned. In 1805 Huntingtower Castle was sold and used for housing cloth factory workers and in 1912 the castle was taken into state care.