Glamis

Scotland > East of Scotland > Angus > Glamis

Glamis Castle has been in the Lyons family since 1372.

The south west wing of the present castle incorporates a building dating from 1400. A tower was added to this original building in 1445.

In the late 1530's Lady Glamis, the widow of the 6th Lord and the sister of the Earl of Angus, was accused of using witchcraft to conspire against the life of James V. She was burned alive as a witch on the Castle Hill of Edinburgh. The estate was confiscated by the King who used the castle as a royal residence.

Glamis was returned to the 7th Lord after the death of James V in 1542.

In 1606 the 9th Lord was created the Earl of Kinghorne. In the same year he began to remodel his castle to make it more comfortable. He added architectural details such as the round chimneys and balconied gables. This was probably when old defensive features such as the moat, the courtyard wall and an outer court were removed. The last remodeling took place in the 1840's after a fire.

Glamis Castle is perhaps best known as the childhood home of the late Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, youngest daughter of the Earl who became Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother to the present Queen.