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Craigmillar Castle
Photograph by Stuart Yeates. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
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Craigmillar Castle. The old Preston seat, stunningly preserved medieval castle
Photograph by Richard Webb. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
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CRAIGMILLAR CASTLE FACTS
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Location
Edinburgh, Lothian
Description
Craigmillar Castle is about three miles south east of the centre of Edinburgh. It is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland. Craigmillar was originally a tower house that still forms the core of the castle. The walls of most of the buildings survive, together with all the vaulted floors. It is possible to climb up to roof level in the tower house and first floor level in large parts of the rest of the building. There is also a complete wall walk around two sides of the curtain wall. Many of the outlying structures survive in the gardens and outer yard. From the roof of the tower house you get views to Edinburgh Castle and Arthur's Seat to the north.
Architecture
tower house with inner and outer courtyard
History
The tower was built around 1400 by the Prestons. Sir William Preston added a curtain wall round the castle in the 1440s creating an inner courtyard. In about 1510 Sir Simon Preston added an outer yard and gardens to the east and west. Craigmillar Castle was captured by the English in May 1544. In 1660 the Prestons sold Craigmillar Castle to Sir John Gilmour. In the early 1700s the Gilmours abandoned it and moved instead to Inch House. Craigmillar Castle fell into ruin and was passed into state care in 1946. Today it is cared for by Historic Scotland.
Date
15th century
Notable Residents
Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Craigmillar Castle in September 1563 and again in December 1566
Other Castles in the Area
Aberdour Castle
Balgonie Castle
Blackness Castle
Borthwick Castle
Crichton Castle
Dalhousie Castle
Dirleton Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Hailes Castle
Lauriston Castle
Lochleven Castle
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