| Castle Campbell | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The castle in 2007 | |
 Interactive map of Castle Campbell | |
| Coordinates | 56°10′29″N3°40′29″W / 56.1748°N 3.6748°W /56.1748; -3.6748 |
| Official name | Castle Campbell |
| Type | Secular: castle |
| Designated | 2 December 2015 |
| Reference no. | SM13611 |
| Official name | Castle Campbell |
| Designated | 31 March 2007 |
| Reference no. | GDL00089 |
Castle Campbell is a medieval castle situated above the town ofDollar, Clackmannanshire, in centralScotland. It was the lowland seat of the earls anddukes of Argyll, chiefs ofClan Campbell, from the 15th to the 19th century, and was visited byMary, Queen of Scots, in the 16th century. Mary was impressed by this and said "this reminds me of home".
Castle Campbell was originally known asCastle Gloom. The name was possibly derived from theScottish Gaelic:glom meaning a "chasm", and referring to the narrow gorges to either side of the site.[1] The naturally defended position may have been the site of a motte in the 12th century. The present tower was built around 1430 forJohn Stewart, Lord Lorne (d.1463), or one of his kinsmen.[2] In about 1460, the property was acquired byColin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (d.1493) during his marriage to Isabel Stewart, Lord Lorne's daughter.[3] The first historical record of the castle dates from the following year, whenPope Paul II issued abull against Walter Stewart, son of Lord Lorne, for attacking and damaging the "Place of Glom". At the time, Campbell, who was at the papal court, might have played a key role in organizing the Pope's involvement. The tower shows signs of early rebuilding following this episode.[2]
| Castle Campbell Act 1489 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | The castell callit the Gloume to be callit in tyme tocum Campbele. |
| Citation | February 1489 c. 23 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 3 February 1489 |
The accession of Castle Gloom expanded the power of the Campbell family, fromArgyll in the west into central Scotland, and also suited Colin Campbell's position asMaster of the Household to KingJames III of Scotland, which required his frequent presence at court.[4] In February 1490, Campbell petitioned the newly crowned King,James IV of Scotland, to formally change the name of Gloom to "Castle Campbell", and this was done by an act of parliament, theCastle Campbell Act 1489 (Feb. c. 23). The name change may imply that the term "castle" was seen as particularly prestigious, requiring royal approval for its use.[5] At this time, the castle would have consisted of the tower house, along with other buildings arranged around the courtyard and gardens outside. The east range was probably added first,[6] and sometime after the accession of the2nd Earl in 1493, the large south range was begun. These buildings show influence of the contemporary works atStirling Castle, now known as the King's Old Building. It included astate apartment of hall, outer chamber and bedchamber, with large south-facing windows overlooking the gardens, and a view across theDevon Valley. The range also provided additional private lodgings, and was accessed via two symmetrically placed stairways facing the courtyard.[7]
In the 16th century, the4th Earl of Argyll (d.1558), embraced the cause ofreligious Reformation, and became one of the leading Protestant lords of his days. His family supported the Calvinist preacherJohn Knox, while he was in Scotland in the 1550s. Knox visited Castle Campbell and preached there, sometime in 1556.[8] In January 1563Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed at Castle Campbell for three days on the occasion of the marriage of Margaret, sister to the5th Earl of Argyll, andJames Stewart, Lord Doune.[6][9][10] The celebrations involved a masque with courtiers and musicians dressed as shepherds and playinglutes. John Knox disapproved of the dancing.[11][12] Knox came in person to Castle Campbell again in February 1564 and met the Earl of Argyll.[13]
It was said theEarl of Moray and the Earl of Argyll plotted to capture Queen Mary andLord Darnley as they returned to Edinburgh from Perth in July 1565 riding byLoch Leven.[14] Mary would have been imprisoned inLochleven Castle or atSt Andrews Castle and Darnley taken to Castle Campbell to preventtheir marriage.[15] Following the marriage of Mary and Darnley in 1565 Argyll joined other Protestant lords in the rebellion called theChaseabout Raid. Mary and Darnley received the surrender of Castle Campbell.[16]
Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll and his wifeAgnes Keith had 18 pieces of tapestry, decorating the castle in 1584.[17] In the more peaceful 1590s,Archibald Campbell 7th Earl of Argyll, rebuilt the east range of the castle to link the south range with refurbished guest chambers in the tower. The new work consisted of a fine two-archedloggia facing the courtyard, with a façade of polishedashlar masonry above. Behind this weregalleries, fashionable additions to the accommodation within the castle, and new stairs to north and south. The east range has been compared to the north courtyard façade atCrichton Castle which was erected around the same time.[6] An inventory made in 1595, records the furniture, tapestries, carpets and other items in each room of the castle, including a total of 47 beds.[18][19][20]
In 1590,James VI of Scotland was displeased with the captain of the castle, Alexander Menteith, Chamberlain of Campbell, who had released a condemned prisoner Henry Mersair, found guilty of fire-raising, murder, slaughter, and other crimes. Mersair was given a horse in the nearby village ofFossoway to make good his escape.[21]Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll imprisoned Thomas Alexander of Balruidy in the castle, and claimed he was a sheep rustler.[22] To keep the castle warm, the Earl of Argyll made arrangements in 1605 with his tenants to have coal brought from pits atSauchie.[23]
._Castle_Campbell.jpg)
The Earls of Argyll continued to support the Protestant cause, and in the religious conflicts of the mid-17th centuryArchibald Campbell, 8th Earl of Argyll, became the leader of the PresbyterianCovenanters, in opposition to the leading RoyalistJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. In 1645, Montrose's troops on their way to theBattle of Kilsyth, laid waste to the lands around Castle Campbell, includingDollar andMuckhart. Many of Montrose's men wereMacLeans, long-standing adversaries of the Campbells. The castle itself was undamaged, and no siege was attempted.[24] In response, Argyll ordered the destruction ofMenstrie Castle andAirthrie Castle, both seats of Royalists.[25] After the execution ofCharles I, the Campbells initially supportedCharles II with Argyll placing the crown of Scotland on Charles' head atScone in 1651. However, Argyll opposed Charles' invasion of England, and in 1652, he submitted toOliver Cromwell'sCommonwealth. Cromwell's forces were garrisoned in Castle Campbell in 1653. In July 1654, Royalist rebels attacked and burned Castle Campbell over two nights.[26]
Argyll was executed followingthe Restoration of 1660 and his son. The9th Earl builtArgyll's Lodging in Stirling rather than renovate Castle Campbell. Apart from being briefly garrisoned during theJacobite rising of 1715, the castle was abandoned. In 1805, the6th Duke of Argyll sold it toCrauford Tait ofHarviestoun, an adjacent estate. In 1859, Harviestoun and Castle Campbell was bought by a businessman and formerLord Provost of Glasgow Sir Andrew Orr.[27] His son James Orr had excavations carried out at the castle in the 1870s, turning up fragments of stained glass from the windows of the south range.[18]
In 1948, the then-owners of the Harviestoun estate gave Dollar Glen to theNational Trust for Scotland, who arranged for the castle to be cared for by the Ministry of Works. Restoration works have included a new roof on the tower, and excavations in the 1980s which revealed charred timbers from the 1654 burning.[26] The castle is now managed byHistoric Environment Scotland as ascheduled monument.[28]
