Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle Details

Craigmillar Castle, a C14 tower and courtyard of the Prestons later altered by the Gilmours, ruined by mid C18.

  • Closest To: Edinburgh
  • Access: Chargeable Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NT288709

Craigmillar Castle is a large and impressive castle consisting of a great tower and courtyard on top of a hill to the south-east of Edinburgh. It is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and is open to the public. Central to the castle is the great tower, which was completed prior to 1425 and was L-shaped from the beginning. Soon afterwards the quadrangular courtyard was added, with small round towers at each corner, and a central gateway facing north. To reach the entrance to the tower it was necessary to walk around the western side and approach along a narrow passageway. Ranges of buildings were added to the east and west sides of the courtyard, along with three outer courtyards, a doocot and two churches.

The castle was built for the Preston family, who were sometimes sheriffs of Midlothian, and the castle was occasionally used as a state prison. It was damaged during the Rough Wooing and repaired to sufficient standard for Queen Mary to stay here. It was again besieged during the civil war of her reign, and the Prestons finally sold up in 1660, to Sir John Gilmour. By 1775 the castle was in ruins.

Official Historic Scotland page

HES Canmore database entry

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