Brechin Castle

Brechin Castle Details

Brechin Castle, a C18 mansion of the Maule-Ramsays possibly on site of royal castle dating to at least the C12.

  • Closest To: Brechin
  • Access: Occasional Access
  • Grid Reference: NO598599

Brechin Castle is to all intents and purposes a mansion of the 18th century, although there has been a castle here since the 13th century. It was in fact at Brechin Castle that King Edward I received the submission of King John Balliol in 1296. It was constructed on a naturally defensive promontory and would have had at least one defensive ditch, although this has been removed by landscaping.

Originally a royal castle, it was granted to Earl David of Huntingdon and then to his illegitimate son Henry. Henry had a long career, appearing in documents of King William and Alexander II, and his son William outlived his second cousin Alexander III by at least 6 months. David de Brechin, William’s son, married a sister of Robert Bruce, but their son, another David, was executed for treason. Bruce granted Brechin to Margaret of Brechin and her husband David de Barclay, and from their descendant it eventually returned to the crown, who retained it until 1634, when Sir Patrick Maule of Panmure built a tower house here which is now hidden within the much altered mansion, and was recently put up for sale by the Dalhousie Estate.

Official website of the Dalhousie Estate

HES Canmore database entry

Become a supporter of my work to access a more detailed history