Glamis Castle
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Glamis Castle is situated beside the village of Glamis in Angus, Scotland. It is the ancestral home of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and has been since 1372, and is open to the public for visiting.
A History of Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle is set in the lowland valley of Strathmore, which lies between the Sidlaw Hills to the south and the Grampian Mountains to the north, approximately 20 kilometres inland from the North Sea. The estate surrounding the castle covers more than 57 square kilometres and there are two streams running through the estate. In addition to the parks and gardens, produces several cash crops including lumber and beef.
In 1034 Malcolm II was murdered at Glamis, where there was a Royal Hunting Lodge. By 1372 a castle had been built at Glamis, since in that year it was granted by Robert II to Sir John Lyon, Thane of Glamis, husband of the king's daughter. Glamis has remained in the Lyon (later Bowes-Lyon) family since this time. The castle was rebuilt as an L-plan tower house in the early 15th century.
The title Lord Glamis was created in 1445 for Sir Patrick Lyon (1402–1459), who was the grandson of Sir John. The 6th Lord Glamis, who was also called John Lyon, married Janet Douglas, daughter of the Master of Angus, at a time when James V was feuding with the Douglases. In December 1528, Janet was accused of treason for bringing supporters of the Earl of Angus to Edinburgh. She was then charged with poisoning her husband, Lord Glamis, who had died on 17 September 1528. Eventually, she was accused of witchcraft, and was burned at the stake at Edinburgh on 17 July 1537. James V subsequently seized Glamis, living there for some time until 1543, when Glamis Castle was returned to John Lyon, 7th Lord Glamis.
Glamis Castle and the Jacobites
Glamis Castle played host to The Old Pretender James VIII & II in 1716. A visit to the castle today provides the opportunity to see the rooms that had a significant part in this visit, and find out more about them.
The Castle Chapel, built in the late 17th century, is an intimate and solemn space. According to Glamis Castle, James ‘conducted a ceremony in the Chapel at which sufferers of the ‘King’s Evil’ (another name for the disease of scrofula, a form of tuberculosis) were presented to the King and “touched”, as it was believed that only rightful Kings could successfully bring about cures’.
The last room in the Royal Apartments are of Glamis Castle is the the King’s Room. This room was used by King George VI as a study and dressing room. While he didn’t sleep in the magnificent 17th century Kinghorne Bed, there were many famous occupants who did, including James VIII in 1716.
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Glamis Castle
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