Oldwoodhouselee Castle

Old Woodhouselee Castle was a 16th-century tower house, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north east of Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland, south of the river North Esk near a dismantled railway track.[1]

History

It has been suggested that the castle was built by Oliver Sinclair in the first half of the 16th century. Historic Environment Scotland, however, only date it to the 16th or early 17th century.[2] The property belonged to the Hamiltons of Bothwellheugh. It is reported that the Regent Moray turned Lady Hamilton and her young child out of the property naked; the child died and Lady Hamilton went mad. What is known is that her husband James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh and Woodhouselee assassinated the Regent Moray at Linlithgow in 1570.[1] In the late 17th century the castle was demolished and used for the building of Woodhouselee, which has also since disappeared.[1]

Structure

The castle was on a high rock.[2] Only three cellars and a ruined wing remain of an L-plan tower.[1] The remaining structure is 63.5 feet (19.4 m) long by 20.75 feet (6.32 m) wide over the walls, and 8.75 feet (2.67 m) high inside.[2] A small structure on the site is believed to have been a kitchen.[2]

Tradition

The ghost of Lady Hamilton, dressed in white, and searching for her baby, is said to haunt the ruins.[1]

See also

References
  1. Coventry, Martin (1997) The Castles of Scotland. Goblinshead. ISBN 1-899874-10-0 p.274
  2. "Old Woodhouselee Castle". Canmore. Retrieved 16 September 2017.

55.8416°N 3.1876°W / 55.8416; -3.1876

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