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Crichton Castle
Edinburgh
The Crichton family was one of the most influential and wealthy, and this castle in Midlothian represents that. Latterly, with the fall from grace of the Crichtons, Crichton Castle became the home of the Earl of Bothwell. Whilst it was scarcely the venue of conspicuous events, the castle's strong ties to two of the most powerful families also bind it to the historical moments these dynasties acted in. Mary Queen of Scots married James, the 4th Earl of Bothwell, and the monarch visited the castle on one occasion.
Originally a true statement of the Crichton's power, one of the oldest tower houses in Scotland, was later developed through several construction efforts, until it fell into a state of disrepair after the 17th century.
Particularly notable are features such as the first Scottish scale-and-platt stair and the Mediterranean styled, diamond faceted façade of the northern lodging, inspired by the Palazoo dei Diamanti in Ferrara. Now in a state of semi-ruin, the castle is attended to by Historic Scotland.
