Craigmillar Castle 'restored', North View

Category

Library Item

Item no

43433

Title

Craigmillar Castle 'restored', north view

Description

Image from James Grant's sketchbook, print numbered 100.

Artist / maker

Grant, James

Date

1848

Type

Pen work

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image by James Grant shows Craigmillar Castle's north elevation. The castle was already a ruin by the time Grant was born, but here he has imagined how it would have looked in its heyday - and perhaps he hoped it would be restored to its former splendour. The coat-of-arms above the curtain wall doorway is that of the Preston family, who acquired the land in 1374, constructed the castle and owned it for almost 300 years. In the battlement above is the Stuart royal coat-of-arms, a lion rampant. The Preston family not only served as royal prison wardens, but also as hosts for royalty.

The Prestons were favoured by James IV and Craigmillar was erected into a barony in 1511 for an annual rent of a penny Scots, indicating that they held the castle from the crown as tenants. After James IV's death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, a long struggle began for control of his infant son James V and governance of the country in his name. Initially his mother, Margaret Tudor, was declared regent, but the Scottish lords soon invited John Stewart, Duke of Albany, to return from France and serve as regent as the king's closest living paternal relative. Albany returned to France in June 1517 and left the king with John Lord Erskine, described by an English commentator as 'a simple man'. James V was initially kept in Edinburgh Castle, but 'for fear of the plaque of pestilence', Erskine moved him to Craigmillar Castle in August, with new locks being made to secure his bedchamber. He probably stayed in the main keep, as the courtyard buildings you can see on the left and right of it inside the curtain wall are thought to be from a later date. Margaret was now given permission to visit her son.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Towers

Architecture > Architectural features > Turrets

Architecture > Architectural features > Walls

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Craigmillar

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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