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Tantallon Castle | |
County |
East Lothian | |
How to get there |
2 miles east of North Berwick, off A198 | |
History
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The castle is
built on a promontory jutting out into Firth of Forth. Three sides are protected by
sheer sea cliffs and the forth side is defended by a vast curtain wall of red sandstone
and two dry moats. Although attacked by sea and cannon, the wall, 50 feet high and 12 feet thick, is one of the strongest defensive features of any British castle. The wall has two flanking towers and a main gateway leading through into the close. The tower is now ruined and so too is the northern courtyard range which contained two great halls. The Mid Tower which has been developed over the centuries is almost complete. Many additions were made in the 16th century, particularly to strengthen the walls against artillery, but most of the castle's buildings date from the 14th century and therefore the keep-gatehouse is one of the oldest in Scotland. The castle was probably built by William, 1st Earl of Douglas and it remained a Douglas family stronghold until 1699. The family used the castle as a base from which to plot and fight against their enemies. Being close to the borders the castle was involved in the endless intrigue between the Scottish barons and the English kings. Archibald Douglas, the 6th Earl of Angus married Margaret Tudor, widow of James IV and sister of Henry VIII of England. In 1528 James V laid siege to the castle after charging the 6th Earl with treason. The castle was besieged for 20 days but the walls stood firm. However, Tantallon finally fell to the king, as a result of negotiations rather than cannon fire, and Douglas fled to England. In exile he was maintained in style at the English court by his brother-in-law Henry VIII. Douglas returned from exile in 1543 after James V's death. In the 6th Earl's absence James V had greatly strengthened and improved Tantallon Castle. The liaison between the earls of Douglas and the English continued into the reign of Elizabeth I and as a result the castle was more a target of attack from the Scots than the English. In 1651 during the Civil war the castle was besieged by General Monck and surrendered after 12 days. This was the last siege it was ever to undergo. The earls of Angus continued to live at Tantallon but with the dismantling of its fortifications the castle no longer appealed as a residence. In 1699 the castle was sold to Sir Hew Dalrymple but thereafter it fell into ruin. |
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