Lochend Castle
Encyclopedia
Lochend House, also known as Restalrig Castle and Lochend Castle, is an occupied house, incorporating the remains of a 16th-century L-plan tower house
, in Edinburgh
, Scotland
. It is located in the Lochend
area, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Edinburgh Castle
, between Holyrood Park
and Calton Hill. The house is protected as a category B listed building.
of Restalrig
early in the 14th century. That family retained possession until forfeit
ed for their part in the Gowrie conspiracy against King James VI
. The castle was burned by William Gilmour of the Inch at that time. Sir Robert Logan
was the last member of the family to own the property.
Thereafter the property was in the hands of Arthur Elphinstone, 6th Lord Balmerino
, from 1704. He was executed in London
for his part in the Jacobite rising of 1745
, having been captured after the battle of Culloden
.
The gable end of the tower is incorporated into the present house, which was built around 1820. City of Edinburgh Council now owns the building, which is used as a children's centre.
in the thick walls, and there are remnants of a fireplace large enough for an ox to be roasted in it. Nearby within the park is a 16th-century doocot
, which was used in the 19th century as a boat house, and is now also Category B listed.
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
, in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is located in the Lochend
Lochend, Edinburgh
Lochend is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is south of Leith.Lochend have a youth football club, playing at Seafield Park.-Sources:...
area, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
, between Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park is a royal park in central Edinburgh, Scotland about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. It has an array of hills, lochs, glens, ridges, basalt cliffs, and patches of whin providing a remarkably wild piece of highland landscape within its area...
and Calton Hill. The house is protected as a category B listed building.
History
The original castle was built on lands originally belonging to the Lestalric family, but which had passed to the Logan familyClan Logan
Clan Logan is a both a Highland and Lowland Scottish clan. The clan does not have a Chief recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms, and therefore can be considered an Armigerous clan...
of Restalrig
Restalrig
Restalrig is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located east of the city centre, west of the A199 road, and to the east of Lochend, with which it overlaps. Restalrig Road is the main route through the area, running from London Road at Jock's Lodge, to Leith Links at the south edge of...
early in the 14th century. That family retained possession until forfeit
Forfeiture (law)
Forfeiture is deprivation or destruction of a right in consequence of the non-performance of some obligation or condition. It can be accidental, and therefore is distinguished from waiver; see waiver and forfeiture....
ed for their part in the Gowrie conspiracy against King James VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
. The castle was burned by William Gilmour of the Inch at that time. Sir Robert Logan
Robert Logan of Restalrig
Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig was a Scottish knight involved in the Gowrie House affair of 1600.The Logan family lived at Lochend Castle near Restalrig, and others of the name had been Provost of Leith...
was the last member of the family to own the property.
Thereafter the property was in the hands of Arthur Elphinstone, 6th Lord Balmerino
Arthur Elphinstone, 6th Lord Balmerinoch
Arthur Elphinstone, 6th Lord Balmerino was a Scottish nobleman and an officer in the Jacobite army.Elphinstone was the son of John Elphinstone, 4th Lord Balmerino and 3rd Lord Coupar, and of his second wife, Anne Ross...
, from 1704. He was executed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for his part in the Jacobite rising of 1745
Jacobite Rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745, often referred to as "The 'Forty-Five," was the attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart. The rising occurred during the War of the Austrian Succession when most of the British Army was on the European continent...
, having been captured after the battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
.
The gable end of the tower is incorporated into the present house, which was built around 1820. City of Edinburgh Council now owns the building, which is used as a children's centre.
Structure
The house is located on a crag in Lochend Park, with steep slopes down to a small loch on its west side. The original part of the building comprises a three-storey L-plan block, which has a steeply pitched roof. The interior has been completely altered, but there are still some aumbriesAumbry
In the Middle Ages an aumbry was a cabinet in the wall of a Christian church or in the sacristy which was used to store chalices and other vessels, as well as for the reserved sacrament, the consecrated elements from the Eucharist. This latter use was infrequent in pre-Reformation churches,...
in the thick walls, and there are remnants of a fireplace large enough for an ox to be roasted in it. Nearby within the park is a 16th-century doocot
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
, which was used in the 19th century as a boat house, and is now also Category B listed.