Airth Castle
| Airth Castle | |
|---|---|
 Airth Castle, seen from the south | |
| Coordinates | 56°03′41″N 3°46′17″W / 56.06131°N 3.77138°W |
Listed Building – Category A | |
| Designated | 25 October 1972 |
| Reference no. | LB2102 |
  Location of Airth Castle in Falkirk | |
Airth Castle is a castle overlooking the village of Airth and the River Forth, in the Falkirk area of Scotland. Until 2023, the castle operated as a hotel and spa.
History
[edit]According to an account attributed to Blind Harry, in 1298 William Wallace attacked a previous wooden fortification on this site to rescue his imprisoned uncle, a priest from Dunipace. A later castle was burnt or destroyed after the defeat of King James III at Sauchieburn in 1488, and Robert Bruce of Airth was given £100 Scots towards rebuilding.[1] The southwest tower is the earliest part, dating to the period immediately thereafter. An extension was added on the east side in the mid 16th century.[2]
Airth Castle was owned by Falcones. Mary Bruce, a daughter of the laird of Airth, was a companion of Mary, Queen of Scots in England.[3] The family were Jacobite sympathizers who were forced to sell after the failure of the 1715 rising.
The castle is a major historic building that retains much medieval fabric. As such, Historic Environment Scotland has designated it a Category A listed building.[4] The ruins of the former parish church of Airth are within the grounds.
Airth Castle is owned by Airth Castle Limited and was operated by Airth Castle Hotel & Spa, a company formed in 2004. It was a popular wedding venue. The operator entered administration and ceased trading in March 2023.[5]
Parts of the Airth Castle Hotel building were destroyed when a fire broke out during the early hours of 23 September 2024.[6]
Ghostlore
[edit]The castle, like many in the area, has a variety of ghostlore stories associated with it. These stories include:
- Sightings of a nanny with two young children who are said to have died in a fire at the castle.
- The sound of children playing being heard in rooms 3, 4, 9 and 23.
- Heavy footsteps can be heard outside room 14 before suddenly stopping and disappearing.
- People have also reported hearing cries and screams believed to be from a maid who was attacked by her master and left to die.
- A ghost dog, with a predilection for biting ankles, is believed to roam the hallways.[7][8]
- A groundsman reportedly haunts the lower floor of the castle.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Thomas Dickson, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), p. 90.
- ^ Ian Scott, "Airth Castle" Archived 17 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Falkirk Local History Society, 2006.
- ^ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 696.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "AIRTH CASTLE (Category A Listed Building LB2102)". Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Job losses as Airth Castle Hotel wedding venue closes", BBC News, 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Huge fire destroys parts of former Airth Castle Hotel". BBC News. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Ten of Scotland's most haunted hotels",The Scotsman, 29 July 2010, updated 11 August 2010, archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
- ^ "Halloween happenings in your area", BBC Tayside and Central Scotland, 22 October 2010.
- ^ "Airth Castle's green phantom appears in wedding photo", Daily Record, 11 November 2012, updated 22 October 2013.
External links
[edit]- Airth Castle Hotel Archived 12 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
