History of the Stewarts | Castles and Buildings
If you are a Stewart Society Member please login above to view all of the items in this section. If you want general information on how to research your ancestors and some helpful links - please look in background information.
If you have a specific question you can contact our archivist.
Lochleven Castle - 14th Century Tower
The island castle of Lochleven is associated with many colourful events and has been visited by countless distinguished personalities during its history. Some of those taking the boat across Loch Leven came of their own accord, including King Robert Bruce. Others were held prisoner within the castle’s walls – such as Robert, the High Stewart, in 1369, two years before his coronation as Robert II, the first of the royal house of Stewart.
But the castle´s best known prisoner is Mary, Queen of Scots who was held here in 1567-68. It was at Lochleven that she was compelled to abdicate her throne in favour of her infant son, James VI. The castle walls held her for less than a year. In May 1568 she escaped across the loch and before that month was out she was in exile in England. She never saw her native land again.
In the Middle Ages, the island of Lochleven was much smaller than it is today. When Queen Mary was a prisoner, the walled castle enclosure with its little garden to the north were all that appeared above the water.
Dominating the castle ruins is the lofty four-storey tower house. Its 14th-century date makes it one of the oldest in Scotland. The original entrance (subsequently closed up) is 5m above ground level, and gave access directly into the lord’s hall on the third floor. This is most unusual – perhaps the residents feared the additional hazard of flooding. The interior is arranged in the usual manner, with kitchen and service accommodation in the bottom two floors and living space above. The floor above the hall served as Mary’s prison; Sir William Douglas, her gaoler, had a window converted into a tiny oratory specially for her.
The Stewart Society visited Lochleven in 2012 and some pictures of our visit there may be seen in the Gallery section
But the castle´s best known prisoner is Mary, Queen of Scots who was held here in 1567-68. It was at Lochleven that she was compelled to abdicate her throne in favour of her infant son, James VI. The castle walls held her for less than a year. In May 1568 she escaped across the loch and before that month was out she was in exile in England. She never saw her native land again.
In the Middle Ages, the island of Lochleven was much smaller than it is today. When Queen Mary was a prisoner, the walled castle enclosure with its little garden to the north were all that appeared above the water.
Dominating the castle ruins is the lofty four-storey tower house. Its 14th-century date makes it one of the oldest in Scotland. The original entrance (subsequently closed up) is 5m above ground level, and gave access directly into the lord’s hall on the third floor. This is most unusual – perhaps the residents feared the additional hazard of flooding. The interior is arranged in the usual manner, with kitchen and service accommodation in the bottom two floors and living space above. The floor above the hall served as Mary’s prison; Sir William Douglas, her gaoler, had a window converted into a tiny oratory specially for her.
The Stewart Society visited Lochleven in 2012 and some pictures of our visit there may be seen in the Gallery section
Reference: MacGibbon and Ross