Slains Castle near Cruden Bay Aberdeenshire North East Scotland. GPAN 0022
Slains Castle is a large imposing ruin fronting directly onto south facing cliffs about a kilometer east of Cruden Bay. Slains Castle is a ruined castle near Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, overlooking the North Sea. The huge ruin of New Slains Castle stands perched atop tall, sea-facing cliffs. The castle was constructed around an existing tower house in 1597 by the 9th Earl of Erroll. Significant reconstruction of the castle has been carried out a number of times, lastly in 1837. It was altered in 1664 when a corridor was inserted within the courtyard and again in 1836 it was rebuilt and granite faced. At one time it had three extensive gardens. The Earls of Erroll, the Hay family, were a powerful family in the area for generations and prospered after William George Hay, the 18th Earl of Errol, married the daughter of King William IV. The 9th Hay Earl of Erroll built it after James VI had destroyed his castle at Old Slains at Cruden Bay, after the Hays participated in the rebellion of 1594. But over time misfortunes befell the Hays and in 1916 the castle and contents were put up for sale. Current Slains Pursuivant, Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick, derives his title from Slains castle was then sold in 1916 and fell into disrepair in the first quarter of the 20th century, after more than 300 years of occupation by the Errolls. The castle was bought by Sir John Ellerman of the shipping line. He in turn gave it up in 1925 and its roof was removed to avoid paying taxes. That led to the inevitable ruin seen today. The ruin of a second, older 13th century castle of the same name lies about 6 miles to the south. The older castle, also a family seat of the Errolls, was blown up by James VI as a punishment for their part in the 1597 plot by the Earl of Huntly against him.
Size: 7930px × 2995px
Location: Slains Castle, Cruden Bay. Aberdeenshire. Grampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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