The castle was built in the 14th century and held by the Leslie family from 1340.<ref name=”Coventry”>Coventry, p.329.</ref> On 5 July 1441, John Leslie of Balquhain made an indenture with four masons, David Hardgat, David Dun, Robert Masoun and Gilbert Masoun that they would complete his building work.<ref>John Stuart, ”Extracts from the council registers of Aberdeen” (Spalding Club, 1844), p. 397, note of the indenture recorded 23 June 1442.</ref>
The castle was built in the 14th century and held by the Leslie family from 1340.<ref name=”Coventry”>Coventry, p.329.</ref> On 5 July 1441, John Leslie of Balquhain made an indenture with four masons, David Hardgat, David Dun, Robert Masoun and Gilbert Masoun that they would complete his building work.<ref>John Stuart, ”Extracts from the council registers of Aberdeen” (Spalding Club, 1844), p. 397, note of the indenture recorded 23 June 1442.</ref>
The castle was sacked during a feud with the [[Clan Forbes|Forbes family]] in 1526.<ref name=”Coventry”/> The castle was rebuilt in 1530. [[Mary Queen of Scots]] in 1562 stayed at the castle prior to the [[Battle of Corrichie]]. She wrote to the laird of Balquhain to make provisions for her when she visited again in August 1564.<ref>Michael Pearce, “Account of George Wishart of Drymme”, ”Miscellany of the Scottish History Society”, 17 (Edinburgh: SHS, 2025), p. 31.</ref>
The castle was sacked during a feud with the [[Clan Forbes|Forbes family]] in 1526.<ref name=”Coventry”/> The castle was rebuilt in 1530. [[Mary Queen of Scots]] in 1562 stayed at the castle prior to the [[Battle of Corrichie]]. She wrote to the laird of Balquhain to make provisions for her when she visited again in August 1564.<ref>Michael Pearce, “Account of George Wishart of Drymme”, ”Miscellany of the Scottish History Society”, 17 (Edinburgh: SHS, 2025), p. 31.</ref>
The placename was sometime written as “Boquhane”. In 1590, John Leslie, laird of Balquhain, employed a nurse for his children called Bessie Roy. She was involved in a trial for witchcraft and was acquitted. Among the accusations, it was said she had caused the death of a woman using a “plaid full of enchantments and sorcery”.<ref>George F. Black, “A Calendar of Witchcraft Cases in Scotland”, Brian P. Levack, ”Witchcraft in Scotland” (Garland, 1992), p. 151.</ref><ref>[https://witches.hca.ed.ac.uk/case/C/EGD/54 Bessie Roy: The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft]</ref><ref>Robert Chambers, ”Domestic Annals of Scotland”, 2 (Edinburgh, 1874), pp. 206–207.</ref>
The placename was sometime written as “Boquhane”. In 1590, John Leslie, laird of Balquhain, employed a nurse for his children called Bessie Roy. She was involved in a trial for witchcraft and was acquitted. Among the accusations, it was said she had caused the death of a woman using a “plaid full of enchantments and sorcery”.<ref>George F. Black, “A Calendar of Witchcraft Cases in Scotland”, Brian P. Levack, ”Witchcraft in Scotland” (Garland, 1992), p. 151.</ref><ref>[https://witches.hca.ed.ac.uk/case/C/EGD/54 Bessie Roy: The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft]</ref><ref>Robert Chambers, ”Domestic Annals of Scotland”, 2 (Edinburgh, 1874), pp. 206–207.</ref>
Balquhain Castle is a ruined tower house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was the stronghold of the Leslies of Balquhain. The castle is located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Inverurie, and is protected as a scheduled monument.[1]
History
The castle was built in the 14th century and held by the Leslie family from 1340.[2] On 5 July 1441, John Leslie of Balquhain made an indenture with four masons, David Hardgat, David Dun, Robert Masoun and Gilbert Masoun that they would complete his building work.[3]
The castle was sacked during a feud with the Forbes family in 1526.[2] The castle was rebuilt in 1530. Mary Queen of Scots in 1562 stayed at the castle prior to the Battle of Corrichie.[4] She wrote to the laird of Balquhain to make provisions for her when she visited again in August 1564.[5]
The placename was sometime written as “Boquhane”. In 1590, John Leslie, laird of Balquhain, employed a nurse for his children called Bessie Roy. She was involved in a trial for witchcraft and was acquitted. Among the accusations, it was said she had caused the death of a woman using a “plaid full of enchantments and sorcery”.[6][7][8]
The castle was burned by the forces of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland in 1746 and was abandoned.
The castle
The tower measures 13.75 by 8.75 metres (45.1 by 28.7 ft), and is surrounded by the remains of a barmkin.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. “Balquhain Castle (SM90)”. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ a b Coventry, p.329.
- ^ John Stuart, Extracts from the council registers of Aberdeen (Spalding Club, 1844), p. 397, note of the indenture recorded 23 June 1442.
- ^ Charles Joseph Leslie, Historical Records of the Family of Leslie, 1 (Edinburgh, 1869), p. 103.
- ^ Michael Pearce, “Account of George Wishart of Drymme”, Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, 17 (Edinburgh: SHS, 2025), p. 31.
- ^ George F. Black, “A Calendar of Witchcraft Cases in Scotland”, Brian P. Levack, Witchcraft in Scotland (Garland, 1992), p. 151.
- ^ Bessie Roy: The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft
- ^ Robert Chambers, Domestic Annals of Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1874), pp. 206–207.
References
- Coventry, Martin (2010). Castles of the Clans; The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans (Reprint ed.). Musselburgh, Scotland: Goblinshead. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
