Thirlestane
Castle
Throughout its long history, Thirlestane
belonged to the Maitland family, one of the most able and famous in Scotland.
The Maitlands came to Britain from France with William the Conqueror in 1066,
and settled in Northumberland. In about 1250, Sir Richard Maitland married
Avicia, the daughter and sole heiress of Thomas du Thirlestane. It was this
marriage that brought the lands of Thirlestane and others into the ownership of
the Maitland family. The ruined remains of one of the family homes at that time
can still be seen, two miles from the Castle off the A697.
Through military service and their
contributions to law and the arts, the Maitlands gained increasing influence and
power. In 1590, John Maitland became Lord Chancellor of Scotland. His son was
created 1st Earl of Lauderdale and his brother, William Maitland, was Secretary
to Mary Queen of Scots.
John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale, was
one of the most important and controversial Scottish figures of the late
17th century. As a leading royalist, he was a confidant of King Charles II
and spent nine years in the Tower of London under sentence of death. After
the Restoration, he was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland. As such,
he was virtually the uncrowned King of Scotland, and wielded unrivalled
power and influence.
On his second marriage to the Countess of
Dysart, he was created Duke of Lauderdale and began transforming Thirlestane
Castle into a fitting palace from which to direct the affairs of Scotland.
He employed Sir William Bruce to undertake the remodelling of the Castle.
Bringing Renaissance influences to the Scottish Baronial style, he
introduced the two front towers and the grand staircase and oversaw the
transformation of the interior, the most remarkable feature of which is the
rich plasterwork of the State Rooms.
The Duke's unscrupulous use of power
eventually caused his downfall. Forced by the King to resign, he lost all
his offices and was even deprived of his pension. On his death in 1682,
leaving no heir, the Dukedom conferred upon him became extinct, while
Thirlestane passed to his brother, Charles, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale.
By the 19th century, Thirlestane's role had
evolved in more peaceful times to that of a Scottish country mansion for the
Earls of Lauderdale. The social use to which the Castle was now put required
more space, so in 1840 the Edinburgh architects, David Bryce and William Burn,
were employed to design two large wings flanking the central Keep. The south
wing, constructed around a central courtyard, housed new kitchens, pantries,
laundries and servants' accommodation. The exterior remodelling highlighted the
earlier features, with the new towers designed to match the outer towers of the
Keep. The interior work also remained sympathetic to the work of Sir William
Bruce, introducing the comforts of the Victorian age while retaining the
magnificent features of the Baroque.
THIRLESTANE HORSE TRIALS
LAUDER
in the SCOTTISH BORDERS
Discover the magic of Thirlestane Castle.
Children's adventure playground, tea room & gift shop and museum.
Set in the
Scottish Borders at Lauder, Thirlestane Castle was rebuilt as the Maitland family home in 1590 and greatly
enhanced by the Duke of Lauderdale in the 1670's. In 1840, it was extended
and refurbished with the addition of two new wings. The Maitlands are a
famous Scottish family who first came to Britain from France with William
the Conqueror. As the seat of the Earls and Duke of Lauderdale, the Castle
has at times held a central role in the history of Scotland. Now in the care
of a Charitable Trust, Thirlestane has been carefully restored to its former
glory Throughout its long history, Thirlestane
belonged to the Maitland family, one of the most able and famous in Scotland.
The Maitlands came to Britain from France with William the Conqueror in 1066,
and settled in Northumberland. In about 1250, Sir Richard Maitland married
Avicia, the daughter and sole heiress of Thomas du Thirlestane.
It was this
marriage that brought the lands of Thirlestane and others into the ownership of
the Maitland family. The ruined remains of one of the family homes at that time
can still be seen, two miles from the Castle off the A697. Through military service and their
contributions to law and the arts, the Maitlands gained increasing influence and
power. In 1590, John Maitland became Lord Chancellor of Scotland. His son was
created 1st Earl of Lauderdale and his brother, William Maitland, was Secretary
to Mary Queen of Scots. John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale, was
one of the most important and controversial Scottish figures of the late
17th century. As a leading royalist, he was a confidant of King Charles II
and spent nine years in the Tower of London under sentence of death. After
the Restoration, he was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland. As such,
he was virtually the uncrowned King of Scotland, and wielded unrivalled
power and influence. On his second marriage to the Countess of
Dysart, he was created Duke of Lauderdale and began transforming Thirlestane
Castle into a fitting palace from which to direct the affairs of Scotland.
He employed Sir William Bruce to undertake the remodelling of the Castle.
Bringing Renaissance influences to the Scottish Baronial style, he
introduced the two front towers and the grand staircase and oversaw the
transformation of the interior, the most remarkable feature of which is the
rich plasterwork of the State Rooms.
