Bavelaw Castle
Encyclopedia
Bavelaw Castle is a historic house
in the City of Edinburgh council area, Scotland
. It is north of Hare Hill in the Pentland Hills
, four miles west of Penicuik
, and two miles south of Balerno
, above Threipmuir Reservoir
.
The house was built around a 16th century L-plan tower house
. Mary, Queen of Scots, and James VI both stayed at Bavelaw.
An earlier structure was held by the Braids, then by the Fairlies, but passed to the Forresters
of Niddry by marriage. From them, it went to the Mowbrays of Barnbougle
in the 16th century, and then to the Dundas family who probably built the core of the current building. Later, in 1628, it passed to the Scotts of Harperigg.
Bavelaw fell into a ruinous state, but was restored and extended in about 1900 by Sir Robert Lorimer (1864 - 1929), linking the former out-buildings to become part of the main house, adding larger windows and a turret to increase the space in the attic, and converting the basement.
Bavelaw Castle is currently owned by the Douglas-Miller family, former owners of the Jenners
department store.
Historic house
A historic house can be a stately home, the birthplace of a famous person, or a house with an interesting history or architecture.- Background :...
in the City of Edinburgh council area, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is north of Hare Hill in the Pentland Hills
Pentland Hills
The Pentland Hills are a range of hills to the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The range is around 20 miles in length, and runs south west from Edinburgh towards Biggar and the upper Clydesdale.Some of the peaks include:* Scald Law...
, four miles west of Penicuik
Penicuik
Penicuik is a burgh and civil parish in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River North Esk. The town was developed as a planned village in 1770 by Sir James Clerk of Penicuik. It became a burgh in 1867. The town was well known for its paper mills, the last of which closed in 2005....
, and two miles south of Balerno
Balerno
Balerno is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland situated 12 kilometres south west of the city centre, next to Juniper Green and Currie. Administratively, Balerno falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Edinburgh Council.- History :...
, above Threipmuir Reservoir
Threipmuir Reservoir
Threipmuir Reservoir is a reservoir in the City of Edinburgh Council area, Scotland, UK. It is situated to the south of Edinburgh in the Pentland Hills, two miles south of Balerno, near Harlaw Reservoir....
.
The house was built around a 16th century L-plan tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
. Mary, Queen of Scots, and James VI both stayed at Bavelaw.
An earlier structure was held by the Braids, then by the Fairlies, but passed to the Forresters
Clan Forrester
Clan Forrester is a Lowland Scottish clan. The clan is an armigerous clan, and has no position under Scots law, because there is no chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.-Origins of the Clan:...
of Niddry by marriage. From them, it went to the Mowbrays of Barnbougle
Barnbougle Castle
Barnbougle Castle is a much-altered tower house on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, between Cramond and South Queensferry. It lies within the Dalmeny Estate, and is the property of the Earl of Rosebery. It is about north of Dalmeny House, the main house on the estate...
in the 16th century, and then to the Dundas family who probably built the core of the current building. Later, in 1628, it passed to the Scotts of Harperigg.
Bavelaw fell into a ruinous state, but was restored and extended in about 1900 by Sir Robert Lorimer (1864 - 1929), linking the former out-buildings to become part of the main house, adding larger windows and a turret to increase the space in the attic, and converting the basement.
Bavelaw Castle is currently owned by the Douglas-Miller family, former owners of the Jenners
Jenners
Jenners Department Store, now known simply as Jenners, is a department store located in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was the oldest independent department store in Scotland until its acquisition by House of Fraser in 2005.- History :...
department store.