Thirlestane Castle

Thirlestane Castle stands on raised ground in the valley of the Leader Water near Lauder in the Scottish Borders. The site has been home to the Maitland family since 1587 and was once the seat of the Earls of Lauderdale. The first Duke of Lauderdale expanded the castle greatly in the 1670s, and further additions were made in the 19th century. The castle is now managed by a charitable trust and open to visitors. It replaced an older peel tower a mile to the south-east, whose ruins remain near the hamlet of Thirlestane. The castle’s history includes dramatic events such as the hanging of James III’s favourites from Lauder Bridge in 1482. During the Rough Wooings with England, an English artillery fort stood on the site before being demolished in 1550. Sir John Maitland acquired the land in 1587 and built a large tower house. His son became the first Earl of Lauderdale, and his grandson, the Duke of Lauderdale, transformed the castle into a grand residence with lavish interiors designed by Sir William Bruce. Today visitors find fine collections of paintings, furniture, porcelain and an historic toy collection. The castle’s 19th-century wings house kitchens, pantries and servants’ quarters arranged around a central courtyard. The grounds include the ruins of the old kirk and the site of Lauder Bridge. During the Second World War the castle served as a girls’ school, with dormitories on the upper floors and classrooms below.