General view of Hermitage Castle from south with Park Wall in background. Digital image of C 67765 CN

Description General view of Hermitage Castle from south with Park Wall in background. Digital image of C 67765 CN

Date 15/8/1996

Catalogue Number SC 799956

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of C 67765 CN

Scope and Content Hermitage Castle, Scottish Borders, from south This view from the south, taken in 1996, shows the entrance front of the castle from a distance, with Hermitage Hill in the background. The mid-14th-century tower is in the centre, flanked by the later south-west and south-east towers. Note the absence of more than a few openings: this is clearly a defensive structure rather than a domestic residence. The mid-14th-century castle was probably built by the Dacre family. Hermitage was owned in 1566 by James, Earl of Bothwell, and in that year Mary, Queen of Scots visited him there when he was ill. It was extensively restored in the 19th century, before it was given into State care. It is now open to the public and is in the care of Historic Scotland. There was a castle on this site in the mid-13th century, but nothing of it now survives. A hall or tower was built in the mid-14th century and was rebuilt in the late 14th century. Rectangular towers were subsequently added on three of the corners, and later a large tower was built on to the south-west corner, replacing a short wing of the tower. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/799956

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap