Careston Castle

Coordinates: 56°43′30″N 2°45′36″W / 56.725°N 2.75995°W / 56.725; -2.75995

Careston Castle
Careston Castle from the south
Careston Castle
Coordinates	56°43′30″N 2°45′36″W / 56.725°N 2.75995°W / 56.725; -2.75995
Site history
Built	16th century

Careston Castle, also known as Caraldston Castle,^[1] is an L-plan tower house dating from the 16th century,^[2] in Careston parish, Angus, Scotland.^[1]

History[]

The names is said to derive from Keraldus, dempster to the Earls of Angus at the start of the 13th century.^[2][3]

Nothing remains of an earlier castle.^[2] The castle was built about 1582 by Sir Henry Lindsay, who became Earl of Crawford in 1620.^[2] It was later owned successively by Sir John Stewart of Grantully, by the Skenes, by a farmer, and in 1871 bought by John Adamson, a mill owner from Blairgowrie and son of a whaling ship owner from Dundee.^[2]

Structure[]

The L-plan tower originally had three vaulted rooms, linked by a corridor in the first floor, although one room now has had its vault removed.^[2] There is a large scale-and-platt stair to the first floor, a turnpike stair in the south west jamb, and a private stair on the north.^[2]

Careston Castle is notable for its chimney-pieces.^[2] The one in the Hall has an enriched cornice, and an overmantel with the Royal Arms of Scotland.^[2] There are fine chimney-pieces also in the dining-room, and the central and east bedrooms on the second floor.^[2] These chimney-pieces are thought to be derived in form from designs in Jacques Androuet du Cerceau's Second livre (1561). ^[4] Campbell also argues that Careston incorporates two of du Cerceau's house designs in the formation of its elevation and plan.^[5] Two wings of the building have been demolished.^[2]

It is a category A listed building.^[6]

References[]