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Home , Cockpen, Dalhousie Castle, Dirleton Castle, Earl of Dalhousie, Earl of Gowrie, Hermitage Castle

The Ramsay Family 850 YEARS OF HISTORY IN THE MAKING the first floor of the , down spent a night in Dalhousie By the year 1342 most of the Four and a half centuries later, The Ramsays of Dalhousie have reason to to the top of the bottle dungeon before going on to where he and occupied areas were some masons who were engaged be proud of their heritage and their long links which measures 10’10” by 10’3”, it defeated William . William captured and David 2nd was able in clearing up part of Hermitage with Scottish history. has a latrine and a ventilation shaft Ramsay later joined the forces of to return from France. Castle discovered Alexander’s but no window. Prisoners were and was present remains and his horse furniture. They held possession of Dalhousie ground level which supplied the lowered into it by rope, the score at the in By Easter of that year only longer than any other family has castle and still yields potable water. marks of the ropes can still be 1314 and in 1320 he was a signatory Castle remained in the The local minister, who had heard retained possession of a castle The area between the keep and the seen in the stonework, once in to the famous Declaration of hands of the English. The titular of the discovery, was fortunate in . The Castle, which is curtain wall was first built up by there was no escape through the Arbroath in which the Scottish constable of the enough to recover the curb bridal situated in the parish of , the 1st of Dalhousie in the early 11’ thick walls. appealed to the Pope in was Sir William Douglas, who had and a stirrup. These were sent eight miles south of , 17th century. The castle closely Rome against the oppressions of made a number of unsuccessful to Sir the famous dates from the 13th century, resembles nearby Castle An old account claims that the English. attempts to retake it. On the eve novelist and historian who was a although only the enormously thick which is now in ruins. Simundus de Ramesia a freeman of Easter, Sir Alexander and his close friend of the ninth Earl of walls at the foundation level and followed David 1st to Scotland followers scaled the walls and Dalhousie to whom the relics were the vaults remain, of the original Originally access to the castle was from Ramsay, a Huntingdonshire William was succeeded by his son surprised the occupants who were given. Although this sad event building. The main parts of the obtained by crossing a village, in about 1140 and was the Alexander who became a renowned celebrating the feast. King David marked the end of Sir Alexander’s present structure were built about over a deep dry moat. This moat founder of the line and the first to figure. The Scottish chronicler, John II delighted at ridding Scotland of glorious contributions to his 1450 from red stone quarried from was re-excavated during the have land at Dalwolsey. Certainly Fordun, wrote of Sir Alexander the last of the English, rewarded family’s history, his successors the opposite bank of the South Esk castle’s conversion into a hotel. the Ramsay name appears in “in his brave deeds of arms and in Sir Alexander de Ramsay by have been attributed with River on which the Castle stands. The “rainures” (recesses for records all through the bodily strength he surpassed all appointing him constable of equally chivalrous and glamorous In the succeeding centuries there the counterbalance beams) of 13th century. William Ramsay, who others of his day”. During these Roxburgh and Sheriff of Teviotdale. contributions to the family and to have been various additions and the original drawbridge raising witnessed deeds regarding land in times the English had regained the These appointments had aroused Scottish history. modifications, but the essential mechanism can still be seen 1280, was the first to be known as incentive in the war with the Scots strong feelings of jealousy in Sir form of the Castle which had an above the main door, as can Ramsay de Dalwolsey and he was and were in the possession of many Alexander’s former friend Sir Sir William Ramsay of the L-shaped keep surrounded by an the machicolations used by the so styled not then as receiving his of the including William Douglas who, exacted Dalhousie is recorded by Fordun outer curtain wall can still be clearly defenders to assail those beneath. lands but as his usual and known Dalhousie. revenge by seizing Alexander in as having defeated the English at discerned. Other interesting features are the designation. This Williams name May 1342, at Hawick and carried Nisbet Moor in 1355. In 1400 a later mural staircase from the banqueting stands on the Ragmans Roll of Sir Alexander formed a band of him off to . Sir Sir Alexander Ramsay withstood a The Drum tower which dates from hall to the vaults. There is also a 1296 as doing for those loyal , and mass troopers, Alexander was incarcerated in a six month siege at Dalhousie laid by the 15th century has a well at spiral stair leading from what was lands to Edward I. The English King and organised raids on the English. dungeon and was left to starve. King Henry IV of . The family received Royal Ramsay family turned gradually establishments in Canada - Dalhousie between the keep and outer wall. have resided at Brechin castle. recognition in 1618 through a charter from warfare to politics, although University in Halifax. The 9th Earl died in 1832 mourned The 16th Earl, Governor General of granting Sir George Ramsay of some descendants made notable amongst others by his old school Rhodesia and Nyasaland before their Dalhousie, his initials can be seen appearances on battlefields. In 1710 Meanwhile, had friend Sir Walter Scott. However, dissolution, passed away at the age on the wall of the keep. His brother the 5th Earl served with a brigade fallen into disrepair. The Civil War, his youngest son James, the first of 93 on 16th July 1999. John was a favourite of King James sent to aid Archduke Charles in the 150 years before, had proved a and only Marquis, was to prove to VI of Scotland. In 1600 this John wars of the Spanish succession, lasting drain of the family’s finances, be every bit as accomplished as his Dalhousie Castle itself has been saved the life by killing the another Ramsay was signatory to the and when the 8th Earl brought his forebears. Prominent in debate in the leased to a series of tenants. Before , who in the famous capitulation of Quebec to General bride home she had to pick her House of , he became President its conversion to a hotel in 1972 it “Gowrie Conspiracy” was plotting Wolfe in 1759. way to the accommodation across of the Board of Trade at the age of was a private Boarding School. The to kidnap the King. As a reward bare beams. The Earl and his 33, and three years later travelled present owner believes that the long John was granted the titles of The 9th Earl George, Captain- made considerable improvements, to Calcutta as the youngest ever tradition of service and hospitality Earl of Holderness and General of the Grand Order of unfortunately not in the best of taste. Governor-General of India. He died associated with the Castle should Haddington by King James. In 1633 Archers, appeared prominently in in 1860 still only 48. His remains are continue, and with this in mind much Dalhousie proved to be the last George’s son William was raised to public life, beginning as a colonel “Dalhousie proved to be the last buried in the family vault at Cockpen has been done to restore the Castle castle in Scotland to be besieged and Ramsay in the Cameronian regiment and castle in Scotland to be besieged church a few hundred yards from to its former glory, whilst providing by an English king in person. of Keringtoun. Eight years later ending as Governor-in-Chief in North by an English king in person.” the castle. His life was summed up the comforts of living in the later half However, Sir Alexander himself he appears to have changed his America. He was present at Waterloo, by Lord Curzon, representing the of the 20th century. was killed two years later at allegiance, for he fought on the side where Wellington having watched The 9th Earl, with the aid of the British Government in India, with the Homildon Hill, a battle mentioned of the Parliamentarians in the civil him outflank the enemy, was moved architect Burns, undid much of the words “No man ever gave his life to in Shakespeare’s Henry IV (part war, and commanded a regiment to comment “By God that man has previous work and restored the his country, more completely or with 1). His great great grandson, also of horses at Marston Moors in 1614. more confidence in him than any other building in keeping with its original more consuming devotion”. Queen Alexander, was slain at Flodden in Cromwell himself spent some time general officer in the army”. form. Inside the front door there was Victoria visits the Castle in 1840 “to 1513. When Mary, Queen of Scots, at the Castle, using it as his lowland formerly an open courtyard across take tea with her devoted servant” escaped from her imprisonment headquarters, with dispatches dated In 1816 he was appointed Lt- which one went to gain access to the 10th Earl. at Loch Leven, and raised her from there in October 1648. Governor of Nova Scotia and the main building through a low standard, the Laird of Dalwolsey is though he continued in this post door in the keep and up a turnpike The Marquis, having no son was mentioned by chroniclers as one of The act of union in 1707 had a for only four years, he found time stairway. The courtyard was roofed succeeded by his cousin Lord those who met her at Hamilton and slow pacifying effect on Scotland’s to sow the seed for what now has in and converted into an entrance Panmure, as 11th Earl. Since the turn fought for her at Langside. quarrels with England and the become one of the finest educational hall; further buildings were added of the century, the Earls of Dalhousie Sir Alexander de Ramsay helps Origin of the ‘Grey Lady”, an Simundus de Ramseia a French re-capture castles and lands from Dalhousie Castle withstands a apparition of a Lady Catherine, An obscure German Pirate, the nobleman, also served with Ramsay de William Ramsay joins the English. Sir William Douglas six month siege by King Henry a mistress of one of the Ramsay progenitor of the Ramsay’s follows King David and was the first Dalwolsey builds forces with King Robert abducts him from St Mary’s IV of England - The death of Sir lairds. She was locked up in one William the Conqueror to England. to have lands at Dalwolsie the inner Keep with the Bruce to defeat Church in Hawick and he is held in Alexander Ramsay at Homildon of the Castle turrets, where she This is the origin of the Ramsay Black (now Dalhousie). The Ramsay’s Vaults and the Bottle Edward II of England at Hermitage Castle. Ramsay’s ghost Hill mentioned in Shakespeare’s 1296 1320 1355 Circa 1450 perished. Her ghost has been Eagle battle emblem. 1090 became notorious border raiders. 1140-1280 Dungeon. Bannockburn. is believed to haunt Hermitage. Henry IV (Part 1). seen on the stairs and in the dungeons. He, or probably his son joined The Ramsay’s acquired large estates stays William Ramsay is Signatory Sir William Ramsay Castle Drum Tower and 1066 and lived 1144 through marriage with the Maules, 1280 at Dalhousie Castle before 1314 to the 1342 defeats the English 1400 Well added to the existing by robbing the natives! (a family of Norman mercenaries against where Scottish Barons appealed at Nisbet Moor. present L shaped inner Circa 1500 also hired by King David) and who Sir of to the Pope against the keep structure. had secured royal grants of land in Scotland. oppression of the English. Sir John Ramsay saves the life of The Great Great Grandson Midlothian and the Carse of Gowrie. King James VI of Scotland by killing of Sir Alexander Ramsay the Earl of Gowrie who was plotting 9th Earl is appointed Lt. slain at the Battle of 9th Earl George - Governor- lays siege to the to a kidnap the King, known as “The Governor of Nova Scotia. Flodden against the English. in-Chief of North America. The then current Earl Castle, then uses it as his lowland Lord William Gowrie Conspiracy”. King James VI Founded one of the Also fought alongside the acted as Signatory to the headquarters, during the conflict. Ramsay raised visits the Castle and becomes James finest educational centres of Wellington at the capitulation of Quebec, in Musket shot is still embedded in to the Earl of I of the new of 1563 in Canada – Dalhousie 1808 1778-79 1710 Circa 1635 1618 1568 Battle of Waterloo. Canada to General Wolfe. the outer walls. Dalhousie. Scotland and England. University in Halifax.

Wednesday 30th Sir Walter Scott Castle structure 5th Earl of Dalhousie aids Area between outside Royal recognition granting Laird of Dalwolsie (Dalhousie) meets 1795 1600 June Mary, Queen of Scots stays at the Castle. “Georgianised” by 1759 the Archduke Charles 1648 curtain wall and the 1633 Sir George Ramsay the title Mary, Queen of Scots and fights 1816 sleeps the night at Daousy George Paterson. in the wars of Spanish inner Keep built up of Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie under her banner on 13th May at (Dalhousie) as she journeys succession. by this, the 1st Earl of - initials are on the outer wall Langside (near ) where 1825-1828 on her third Progress 9th Earl with Dalhousie. of the Keep. they are unfortunately defeated. the famous Scottish through her realm. She Architect William Burn, 10th Earl James Ramsay appointed comes from Borthwick “rebarionalises” the Governor General of India at 36 Castle and leaves the Castle into the mansion years, and was eventually made following day for Roslin as it stands today. Marquis. Brought to Britain the most 16th Earl - Governor (Rosslyn Castle). famous diamond in the World, the Castle was General of Rhodesia and ‘Koh-I-Noor’ (‘Mountain of Light’) uninhabited Nearby over 100 year old Nyasaland before their In March 2012 the 1832 strapped to his waist to ensure a safe Earls of Dalhousie until 1972 when Quarry House, purchased dissolution in the 1960’s, present owners passage. It is now the centrepiece of 1878-1925 move to reside at 1925-early 1950’s converted into 1994 and converted into 1998 passed away at the age of 2000 purchase Dalhousie 2014 the ’s state crown. Brechin Castle a hotel. Lodge bedrooms. 93 on 16th July 1999. Castle. 9th Earl dies and is mourned by his old school The 14th Earl of Dalhousie Castle becomes a Private Major repairs and New owners of New “Orangery” addition to Castle “Castle Rocks”, formerly known as The friend Sir Walter 1847 succeeded his father at the Circa early 1900’s Preparatory Boarding Early renovations are 1997 Feuhold (freehold) and 1999 on the South side patio opened. The 2012 Dower House or The Lodge was fully Scott. age of nine. Lord Dalhousie “Dalhousie” School. 1950’s carried out. lands. Privileged to first extension to the Castle for 170 refurbished. Castle Rocks was the 13th served with distinction in the Moved to Melville House -1972 be custodians and to years! The 250 year old storage vaults century workers Lodge, 2 minutes from South African war (1901-1902) near Ladybank, Fife in maintain the Castle and converted into a new “Aqueous Spa”, the castle over Dalhousie Bridge next to and was wounded in Flanders early 1950’s. The school’s lands in good order for including a State of the Art Hydropool, the quarry where Dalhousie Castle was during WW1. motto was “Efficiunt, future generations. the first of its’ kind in Scotland. quarried from. Clarum, Studia”. ------part of ------THE ROBERT PARKER COLLECTION

Dalhousie Castle and Aqueous Spa, , Edinburgh, Scotland, EH19 3JB

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