Tantallon Castle

Submitted by George Farquhar on Sat, 2011-04-30

A formidable stronghold set atop cliffs on the Firth of Forth, Tantallon Castle was the seat of the Douglas Earls of Angus, one of the most powerful baronial families in Scotland.

Tantallon served as a noble fortification for more than three centuries and endured three sieges.

Visitors can enjoy wild flowers in season and touch the replica cannon. Refreshments are available in the visitor centre.

Highlights

  1. The stunning location – on a high cliff edge overlooking the Firth of Forth and the Bass Rock.
  2. The mighty stone curtain wall – absolutely the best 14th-century castle architecture anywhere in Scotland.
  3. The replica gun in the East Tower – an exact reproduction of the kind of gun that would have been used to defend the castle against James IV (1491) and James V (1528).
  4. The wildlife – rare flora and fauna inhabit the large promontory.

From the history:

Stronghold of the Douglases

Mighty Tantallon Castle was built in the 1350s by a nobleman at the height of his power. In 1354, William Douglas came into possession of all his father’s lands, as well as those of his uncle, ‘the Good Sir James of Douglas’, a close friend of King Robert Bruce. The estates included the barony of North Berwick. In 1358 William was created Earl of Douglas, by which date the builders may already have begun to build his new stronghold.

In the 1380s the dynastic house of Douglas split into two branches, known as the ‘Black’ and the ‘Red’. Tantallon passed to the junior line, the ‘Red Douglases’, Earls of Angus. For the next 300 years, the earls of Angus held sway at the castle, acting out their role as one of the most powerful baronial families in Scotland.

During that time it endured three great sieges, in 1491, 1528 and 1651. The last, by Oliver Cromwell’s army, resulted in such devastating destruction that the mighty medieval fortress was abandoned to the birds.


The curtain wall of Tantallon Castle

Scotland’s last great medieval castle

Tantallon was the last truly great castle built in Scotland. Its architecture harked back to the mighty stone castles of enclosure of the 13th century, such as Bothwell Castle. These were characterised by enormously thick and high stone walls enclosing large closes, or courtyards. Lofty stone towers projected from the great curtain, wherein the noble life was lived.

Tantallon’s plan differs from most great 13th-century enclosure castles only because of its situation, at the edge of a promontory. Although the curtain wall enclosed the entire site, the castle only needed formidable defences along the landward side. That great curtain wall of red sandstone still stands remarkably entire, as do the three towers in which the mighty earls of Angus and their henchmen lived their lives.


The north range, seen from the gatehouse

The architecture of warfare

The castle was constructed in an age before gunpowdered artillery existed. Its high, thick walls had simply to withstand assault from stone-throwing machines, battering rams and arrows. This explains the almost complete absence of openings in the curtain wall, the concentration of defence on the battlements at the wall top, and the wide, deep ditch in front.

The invention of the gun changed all that, and subsequent owners had to improve the castle’s defensive capability. They filled in the wall chambers to help withstand incoming cannon shot, inserted gunholes and built additional gun defences outside. These included a guntower beside the outer gate, and a ravelin (an earthen gun emplacement) beyond. It was all to no avail, for in 1651 Cromwell’s heavy guns, mounted on adjacent promontories, ripped the guts out of the end towers.

Visitor Info:

Public transport

From Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, take the train to North Berwick (30 min). Walk from North Berwick train station to High Street at Quality Street (15 min). Take Eve Bus no 120 (Dunbar) to Tantallon Castle (6 mins).

Telephone: 01620 892 727

Accessibility

The ground floor is access only for visitors using wheelchairs or with limited mobility, but the grounds can be explored.

Opening Hours

Summer: 1 April – 30 September, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun, 9.30 am to 5.30 pm
October: 1 October – 31 October, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
Winter: 1 November – 31 March, Mon Tue Wed Sat Sun, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm

Admission prices

All year Adult £5.00, Child £3.00, Concession £4.00 (Last ticket sold 30 min before closing time.)

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