The Ramsay Family
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The Ramsay Family 850 YEARS OF HISTORY IN THE MAKING the first floor of the keep, down spent a night in Dalhousie Castle 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 Falkirk where he castles 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 Wallace. 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 Sir Alexander’s but no window. Prisoners were Robert the Bruce 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 Battle of Bannockburn 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 Roxburgh 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 Scotland. 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 Roxburgh Castle enough to recover the curb bridal situated in the parish of Cockpen, the 1st Earl of Dalhousie in the early 11’ thick walls. Barons appealed to the Pope in was Sir William Douglas, who had and a stirrup. These were sent eight miles south of Edinburgh, 17th century. The castle closely Rome against the oppressions of made a number of unsuccessful to Sir Walter Scott the famous dates from the 13th century, resembles nearby Dirleton 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 King 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 drawbridge 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 Midlothian 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 Scottish castles 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 Hermitage Castle. Sir Sir Alexander Ramsay withstood a The Drum tower which dates from hall to the vaults. There is also a 1296 as doing homage for those loyal knights, 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 England. 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, Dalhousie castle 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 Kings 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 Earl of Gowrie, who in the famous capitulation of Quebec to General bride home she had to pick her House of Lords, 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 lady 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 Viscount 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 Earl of Dalhousie and Lord 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 Earls 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.