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Borthwick
Castle stands as one of the most important historic buildings in
Scotland, indeed in Europe. A twin towered baronial keep, built
by the first Lord Borthwick in 1430, whose sepulchre can still be
seen with that of his lady in the old village church.
It was
to this castle in 1567 that Mary Queen of Scots, surely one of the
most tragic and enigmatic women of all time and her third husband,
the Earl of Bothwell, fled from Edinburgh to seek sanctuary in this
impregnable fortress.
It was here that she and Bothwell spent their final days of freedom
before being separated for ever. She was to die upon the scaffold
and he to die in a Danish prison after leaving the safety of Borthwick.
Nearly a century later it was besieged by the forces of Oliver
Cromwell, leader of the Roundheads in the Civil War, which led
to the unique event, the dethronement, trial and beheading of
a Stuart King, Charles 1. The castle walls still bear the scars
caused by the bombardment of Cromwell's cannon.
The early Borthwicks were warriors and this is reflected in
the castle's history. On occasions they were not well disposed
towards prisoners and legend has it that a popular sport at
the castle was inviting them to jump the twelve foot gap between
the towers with hands tied behind their backs. Those who succeeded
were granted their liberty.
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For
over 550 years, Borthwick Castle has stood defiant, majestic,
indestructible - a living tribute to the skill of the
great craftsmen who built this impressive and massive
stone edifice. |
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The Red Room in the castle is said to be haunted. Mary Queen of Scots
called at the castle after her marriage (at 4am on 15 May 1567) to
the Earl of Bothwell. The castle was besieged and she only escaped
by disguising herself as a man. Ever since then an apparition of Mary,
dressed as a page boy, has been seen.
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