Lauriston Castle

Infobox Military Structure
name=Lauriston Castle
location=Edinburgh, Scotland
gbmappingsmall|NT2021676093
coordinates=


caption= Lauriston Castle from the south
type=L-Plan tower house with a Jacobean range
built=c. 1590
builder=probably Archibald Napier, 7th Laird of Merchiston
materials=Stone
used=16th century to 21st century
condition=
ownership=the city of Edinburgh
open_to_public=Yes
controlledby=

Lauriston Castle is a 16th century tower house with 19th century extensions overlooking the Firth of Forth, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

History

The original tower house was built around 1590 by Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston, the father of John Napier (1550–1617), the inventor of logarithms, for his younger son, also named Archibald. Later, it was the home of John Law (1671–1729), the economist and of the Right Hon. Andrew Lord Rutherfurd (1791–1854). In 1827, Thomas Allan, a banker and mineralogist, commissioned William Burn (1789–1870) to extend the house in the Jacobean style.

William Reid, proprietor of Morison and Co., acquired Lauriston Castle in 1902, installed modern plumbing and electricity, and he and his wife Margaret filled the house with a collection of fine furniture and artwork. The Reids, being childless, left their home to Scotland on the condition that it should be preserved unchanged. The City of Edinburgh has administered the house since Mrs Reid's death in 1926, which today offers a fascinating glimpse of Edwardian life in a Scottish country house.

At some point during its numerous refurbishments, a stone carving of an astrological horoscope was installed in the outer wall, on the southwest corner. The horoscope was reputedly done by John Napier for his brother. It can be seen in some pictures on the front wall, beneath the left-most stair tower, near the ground.

Design

Lauriston Castle was originally a four-storey, stone L plan tower house, with a circular stair tower, with two storey angle turrets complete with gun loops. A Jacobean range was added in 1827, to convert it to a country manor.

Gardens

The gardens at Lauriston include a notable Japanese garden of one hectare. The garden, built by Takashi Sawano, opened in August 2002. [Public Japanese Gardens: UK and Ireland Survey. "Journal of Japanese Gardening" No. 35, September/October 2003. [http://www.rothteien.com/topics/uk-survey.htm] accessed 16 October 2006.]

At the back of the castle there are beautiful views of the river Forth, which are enjoyed by members of the Edinburgh Croquet Club (http://www.edinburghcroquetclub.com) on the three croquet lawns that sit between the castle and the river.

Ghost

Lauriston Castle, like so many other Scottish castles, is reputedly haunted. It is said that the sound of ghostly footsteps can be heard. [ [http://www.thesupernaturalworld.co.uk/index.php?act=main&code=01&type=00&topic_id=1264 The Supernatural World :: Looking for ghosts? Try the usual haunts ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=740 Description of Lauriston with photo]
* [http://www.ccir.ed.ac.uk/~fmi/lauriston.html Contains a picture of the rear view of the castle]
* [http://www.cac.org.uk/venues/lauriston.htm Lauriston Castle official website]
* [http://www.edinburghcroquetclub.com Edinburgh Croquet Club]