Craigievar Castle is a pinkish harled castle six miles south of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is currently the seat of the Clan Sempill. The setting is among scenic rolling foothills of the Grampian Mountains. The contrast of its massive lower story structure to the finely sculpted multiple turrets, gargoyles and high corbelling work create a classic fairytale appearance. Download high resolution version (632x954, 130 KB)Craigievar Castle, an archetypical Scottish Tower house near Aberdeen, photograph taken 1991 by User:Dave souza File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (632x954, 130 KB)Craigievar Castle, an archetypical Scottish Tower house near Aberdeen, photograph taken 1991 by User:Dave souza File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3287x2190, 12073 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Craigievar Castle Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3287x2190, 12073 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Craigievar Castle Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Harl is a Scottish term describing a building technique. ... Caernarfon Castle, Wales. ... Alford, Aberdeenshire is a small town of north-east Scotland in the valley of the Don. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... Chiefs Coat of Arms Clan Sempill is a Lowland Scottish clan. ... The Grampian Mountains or Grampians are one of the three major mountain ranges in Scotland. ... Corbelled corner turrets at Newark Castle, Port Glasgow. ... A gargoyle adorning Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland In architecture, the gargoyle (from the French gargouille, originally the throat or gullet, cf. ... Elaborately decorated classical-style stone corbels support balconies on a building in Indianapolis. ...

An excellent example of the original Scottish Baronial architecture, the great seven-storey castle was completed in 1626 by the Aberdonian merchant William Forbes, ancestor to the "Forbes-Sempill family" and brother of the Bishop of Aberdeen. Forbes purchased the partially completed structure from the impoverished Mortimer family in the year 1610. William Forbes nickname was Danzig Willy, a reference to his shrewd international trading success. The Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland. Greenock Sheriff Court displays crow-stepped gables and corbelled corner turrets. ... Events September 30 - Nurhaci, chieftain of the Jurchens and founder of the Qing Dynasty dies and is succeeded by his son Hong Taiji. ... Aberdeen, often called The Granite City, is Scotlands third largest city, with a population of approximately 202,370[1]. Aberdeen is the chief commercial centre and seaport in the north-east of Scotland. ... Sir William Forbes (1739 — 1806) was a Scottish banker, son of a Scotch advocate and baronet, born in Edinburgh; became partner in the banking firm of Messrs. ... The Bishop of Aberdeen is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. ... The standard of the NTS The National Trust for Scotland, or NTS, describes itself as The conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotlands natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to enjoy. ...

Designed in the L plan, as was Muchalls Castle, which is located in the same region, Craigievar is noted for its exceptionally crafted plasterwork ceilings. Craigevar, Muchalls Castle and Glamis Castle are generally considered to have the three finest ceilings in Scotland. The Clan Forbes family were close friends of the Clan Burnett of Leys, who built both Crathes Castle and Muchalls Castle. Muchalls Castle, Kincardineshire Muchalls Castle stands overlooking the North Sea in the countryside of historic Kincardineshire, Scotland. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Muchalls Castle, Kincardineshire Muchalls Castle stands overlooking the North Sea in the countryside of historic Kincardineshire, Scotland. ... Glamis Castle Glamis Castle is situated beside the village of Glamis — pronounced Glahmz (in IPA: ) — in Angus, Scotland. ... Clan Forbes Crest. ... Clan Burnett is a Scottish clan. ... Crathes Castle is a castle near Banchory in the Grampian region of Scotland. ... Muchalls Castle, Kincardineshire Muchalls Castle stands overlooking the North Sea in the countryside of historic Kincardineshire, Scotland. ...

The castle originally had more defensive elements including a walled courtyard with four round towers; only one of the round towers remains today. In the arched door to that round tower are preserved the carved initials of Sir Thomas Forbes, William Forbes' son. There was also a massive iron yett or gate covering the entrance door. The round tower at Glendalough, Ireland, is approximately thirty metres tall A round tower was primarily a bell tower, or belfry, as the Irish form of the name cloictheach clearly indicates, and as was proved by George Petrie as long ago as 1845 and never seriously challenged since. ...

The castle interior boasts a Great Hall that has the Stuart Arms over the fireplace; a musicians gallery; secret staircase connecting the high tower to the Great Hall; Queen's Bedroom; servants' quarters and of course several splendid plasterwork ceilings. There is a collection of Forbes family portraits inside as well as a considerable quantity of Forbes furnishings dating to the 17th and 18th centuries. A great hall was the main room of a royal palace, a noblemans castle or a large manor house in the Middle Ages, and in the country houses of the 16th and early 17th centuries. ... Stuart may be: a surname a male first name An alternative spelling is Stewart. ...

As of 2006, the castle, its estate, and over 200 acres of adjoining farmlands and woodlands are owned by the National Trust for Scotland. They are open to tourists during the summer months. The castle is closed to tour buses and large groups, but may be accessed by guided tour. Also, the castle will be closed until sometime in 2007, due to restoration work being done on the outside of the building. 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The standard of the NTS The National Trust for Scotland, or NTS, describes itself as The conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotlands natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to enjoy. ...

References

• National Trust for Scotland
• Tranter, Nigel, History of the Fortified House in Scotland, Six Volumes (1962 to 1971)

The standard of the NTS The National Trust for Scotland, or NTS, describes itself as The conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotlands natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to enjoy. ... Nigel Tranter (November 23, 1909 – January 9, 2000) was a Scottish historian and author. ...

External links

Craigievar Castle

• Craigievar Castle at the National Trust for Scotland
• The Chatelaine's Scottish Castles