| Roslin Castle | |
|---|---|
| Roslin,Scotland Grid Ref.NT274627 | |
 The approach to Roslin Castle over the bridge, and showing the east range behind the ruined gatehouse. | |
| Site information | |
| Owner | The 7th Earl of Rosslyn |
| Condition | Partially ruined, partially habitable |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 55°51′09.50″N3°09′35.50″W / 55.8526389°N 3.1598611°W /55.8526389; -3.1598611 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 14th to 17th centuries |
| Built by | Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney |
| In use | 14th century to present |
| Materials | Stone |
Roslin Castle (sometimes speltRosslyn) is a partially ruinedcastle near the village ofRoslin inMidlothian,Scotland. It is located around 9 mi (14 km) south ofEdinburgh, on the north bank of theNorth Esk, only a few hundred metres from the famousRosslyn Chapel.
There has been a castle on the site since the early 14th century, when theSinclair family,Earls of Caithness andBarons of Roslin, fortified the site, although the present ruins are of slightly later date. Following destruction during theWar of the Rough Wooing of 1544, the castle was rebuilt. This structure, built into the cliffs of Roslin Glen, has remained at least partially habitable ever since. The castle is accessed via a high bridge, which replaced an earlier drawbridge. Roslin was renovated in the 1980s and now serves as holiday accommodation.
The first castle was built in either the late 14th or in early 15th century,[1] perhaps begun byHenry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney,Baron of Roslin (c. 1345–1400).TheSinclair, or St Clare, family were of French origin, and have held Roslin since 1280. The castle was built on a rocky promontory near the site of theBattle of Roslin, where the Scots defeated the English in 1303. Henry's sonHenry, 2nd Earl of Orkney (c. 1375–1422) built a new rectangular, round-cornered keep at the south-west corner.The courtyard was entered via a drawbridge over an artificial ditch, giving access to a pend in the small north range.[2]
The castle contained ascriptorium during the 15th century, and five St Clair manuscripts, dating back to 1488, are in theNational Library of Scotland.[3] These include the Rosslyn-Hay manuscript, believed to be the earliest extant work inScots prose. The castle was damaged by a domestic fire in 1452.[4] Legend has it that during the fire the Earl was in consternation because of his valuable manuscripts, but they were lowered to safety from a window by his chaplain.[3]
Roslin was more severely damaged by theEarl of Hertford, who burned the castle during theWar of the Rough Wooing in 1544. The keep was almost totally destroyed, although its one remaining ruined wall can still be seen.[5]
The castle was rebuilt in the late 16th century. A new five-storey east range was built into the side of the rock, and the gatehouse was rebuilt, this time with a permanent stone bridge. In 1591 the Laird of Roslin was forfeited, and the castle was held by William Leslie for theEarl of Huntly. The rebelEarl of Bothwell stayed, but left in a hurry leaving behind his coffers with clothes and silver plate.[6]
The upper part of the east range was renovated in 1622, with renaissance details and carving to door and window surrounds. Roslin suffered again from the artillery ofCromwell’s commander in Scotland,General Monck, in 1650. It was further damaged by a Reforming mob in 1688.[5]By the 18th century the structure was dilapidated, though part of the east range has always remained habitable.
James Erskine inherited the Rosslyn and Dysart estates in 1789, from his cousin James Paterson St Clair, upon which he adopted the surname of St Clair-Erskine. In 1805, he inherited the title ofEarl of Rosslyn (created 1801 forAlexander Wedderburn); since that date, the Rosslyn estate has been in possession of theEarl of Rosslyn.
From 1982 to 1988, the east range was restored by architects Simpson and Brown.[7]The current owner,The Rt Hon.The 7th Earl of Rosslyn, a descendant of the Sinclairs, leases the castle as holiday accommodation via theLandmark Trust.[8] The castle is aScheduled Ancient Monument, and a Category Alisted building.[9][10]
The castle stands precipitously above a loop of theRiver North Esk, which protects it on three sides. This rocky promontory was breached on the north side to form a ditch giving further protection. The castle is approached from Roslin across this ditch, via a precipitous bridge and through the ruined gatehouse.
The remains of the gatehouse and north range comprise only fragments of walls and one side of the entrance arch, with the remains of abartizan above. Along the west side of the castle, the 15th-century curtain wall remains standing to a considerable height. This section of wall has six openings at the base, one of which served as apostern gate. On the outer face, the six bays are divided by roundedbuttresses. Old sketches of Roslin show bartizans above each of these buttresses, with a wall-walk connecting them.[11]
To the south of this wall is the remaining wall of the keep. The mound beneath is formed from the collapsed remnants of the other three walls. The ruin suggests that the keep was around 16m by 12m, with walls 2.9m thick rising to amachicolated parapet.[12]
The restored east range measures around 31m by 10m, with a pitched roof and crow-step gables. It is entered through a richly carved doorway, dated 1622 and initialled SWS for Sir William Sinclair, which gives access to the third floor. The three lower floors are cut into the rock, and each has four vaulted rooms, with a fifth in the south-east tower. These lower levels were used for service rooms, with the principal rooms in the two upper floors. At the lowest level was a kitchen, with a bakehouse above. On the exterior, gunloops are found on the south wall, with several shot-holes on the east.[2]
All five floors are connected by a central scale-and-platt staircase, added in the early 17th century to replace aturnpike stair in the south-west. The rooms of the upper floors have impressive panelling and decorated ceilings. The main hall, in the south part of the block, has been divided, but retains a large fireplace with the carved initials WS and JE, for William Sinclair and his wife Jean Edmonstone, and the date 1597.[12]
Roslin Castle is one of the places featuring in SirWalter Scott's poemRosabelle.[13] A ballad namedRoslin Castle was written in the 18th century by Richard Hewitt of Cumberland,[14] the lyrics and music of which are recorded in volume one of theScots Musical Museum collection of Scottish songs.[15]The castle was also used as a location forRon Howard'sfilm adaptation ofDan Brown's book,The Da Vinci Code.[16]
The castle features inThe Scottish Chiefs.[17]
