History
"850 years of
history at Dalhousie Castle"
It is difficult to imagine a building which now stands peacefully
along the River South Esk amongst the rolling Midlothian countryside,
has experienced such a varied and turbulent past.
Dalhousie Castle dates back to the 13th Century and was originally
built by the Ramsays of Dalhousie, a noble Scottish family descended
from Simundus de Ramseia, who in about 1140 followed King David
I to Scotland from the Huntingdonshire village of Ramsay. Of
the original Castle structure, only the enormously thick foundation
walls and vaulted dungeons remain, the rest of the present-day
building was constructed around 1450 from hard, pink sandstone,
quarried from the banks of the nearby River South Esk. Although
later structural changes were made to the Castle, it's original
shape, and inner L-shaped keep surrounding by an outer curtain
wall, can be seen today. During the 15th Century, the imposing
drum tower was added. Finally in 1633 William the first Earl
of Dalhousie, built out to the curtain wall from the keep.
In years past, access to the Castle was only possible by crossing
a drawbridge over a deep, dry moat. When the Castle was re-planned
as a hotel in 1972, the moat was partially re-excavated and various
features renovated. You can see for instance, the machicolations
above the main door. These are parapets with openings through
which defenders dropped missiles or poured burning boiling oil
upon imperiled assailants beneath. Also above the main door,
the original recesses for the counter balance beams of the drawbridge
raising the mechanism, or rainures, are clearly visible.
Once inside Dalhousie Castle you will see differing decors. This
variation has been caused partly because of the Castle's structural
development over the centuries, and partly because William Burn,
the architect entrusted with the last major renovation in 1825,
was famous for his large stylistic repertoire. You will find
yourself walking from the entrance hall, up the miniature Imperial
staircase, across the mezzanine landing known as the Quarterdeck,
past the canopied Gothic niche on its further wall, turning right
into the Library, complete with its Rococo ceiling, extensive
pinnacled Gothic shelving, and a secret bar (a post-Burn comfort).
Other interesting features include the mural staircase which
leads down from the banqueting hall to the dungeons, and the
narrow spiral staircase dropping down from what was the fist
floor of the keep, to the top of the forbidding bottle dungeon.
From here, prisoners where lowered into the ten-foot square,
windowless chamber by rope. You can still see the chilling score
marks in the stonework.
But who are the Ramsays of Dalhousie? They are a family which
notably, has retained possession of its Castle longer than any
other family in Scotland. The name Ramsay first appears in Midlothian
records at the beginning on the 13th Century, and has had important
links with Scottish and world history ever since. Edward I, King
of England from 1272 to 1307 was the first sovereign to recognize
the then resident William Ramsay's absolute land rights over
Dalhousie Castle.
The King even spent a night at the Castle before going on to
Falkirk, where he defeated the Scottish resistor William Wallace.
However, the fealty sworn to England seemed to be rather short
lived, and William Ramsay was soon to be fighting at the Battle
of Bannockburn against the English, on the side of Robert the
Bruce.
In 1320, William Ramsay signed the famous declaration of Arbroath
in which the Scottish barons, appealed to the Pope against the
oppressions of the English.
Since the turn of the century, the Earls of Dalhousie have resided
at Brechin Castle. The 16th Earl, Governor-General of Rhodesia
and Nyasaland before their dissolution, lives there now. Dalhousie
Castle itself has been leased to a series of tenants, and before
its conversion to a hotel in 1972, it was a private boarding
school. The present owners now believe that the long tradition
of service and hospitality associated with the Castle should
be continued, and with this in mind much has been done to restore
the Castle to its former glory, whilst providing the comforts
of living in the later half of the 20th Century. |
