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Investigating Over the Course of Four Hundred Years: the De Dirleton Castle Vauxs, the Halyburtons and the Ruthvens

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Investigating Over the Course of Four Hundred Years: the De Dirleton Castle Vauxs, the Halyburtons and the Ruthvens Dirleton Castle was home to three different families INVESTIGATING over the course of four hundred years: the de DIRLETON CASTLE Vauxs, the Halyburtons and the Ruthvens. Information for Teachers investigating historic sites dirleton castle 2 Timeline Dirleton Castle was home to castle to their own design. Most c.1160 de Vaux family three different families over the significant was the new east wing, acquire estate of Dirleton course of four hundred years: the incorporating an impressive Great Hall, de Vauxs, the Halyburtons and capacious vaults and a block of private c.1220 New castle begun the Ruthvens. Each family left its apartments to replace the cramped 1298-1314 Castle under mark and, though now in ruins, quarters in the de Vaux towers. siege by Edward I’s forces; the castle remains an exciting In 1505 the castle changed hands, again changes hands between and rewarding place to explore through marriage. Its new owners were English and Scots several medieval life. times the ambitious and powerful Ruthvens, involved in many of the key events post-1314 Castle partly Historical background of the sixteenth century. When not demolished There are three distinct phases of plotting political intrigue, the Ruthvens building at Dirleton Castle. The first c.1350 Castle passes to found time to remodel the castle a third Halyburton family castle was started in the early thirteenth time, building an elegant and gracious century by the de Vaux family, originally c.1450 Halyburtons house adjoining the de Vaux tower. The from Normandy. John de Vaux became rebuild castle including fourth Lord Ruthven, the first Earl of the steward to Alexander II’s Queen east wing Gowrie, had a keen interest in gardens Marie de Coucy and the round towers of 1505 Castle passes to and it is under the Ruthvens that the the first castle may have been modelled Ruthven family gorgeous gardens at Dirleton first on her father’s French chateau at Coucy, started to flourish. mid-1500s New house near Amiens. built within close; Involved in one plot too many, in 1600 The five-towered castle, perched on gardens remodelled and the third Earl of Gowrie was killed top of a rocky knoll and given extra developed; dovecot built during an attempted royal coup and height by the deep ditch surrounding 1600 Ruthvens forced to as punishment the family forfeited the it, must have been a magnificent sight. leave Dirleton castle and lands. A high curtain wall protected the living 1650 Castle partly quarters of Lord and Lady de Vaux Following Cromwell’s invasion in demolished following and enclosed the multitude of castle 1650, the castle, one of the bases for attack by Cromwell’s resistance, was besieged by 1600 men. troops workers . The castle was taken, and again partially The formidable defences were tested 1663 Nisbet family buys demolished. After a brief stint as a field with the Wars of Independence when Dirleton estate; builds hospital the castle was never inhabited the castle was besieged by the forces of and lives in nearby again. The Nisbet family bought the Archerfield; develops Edward I of England. It changed hands estate in 1663 but built themselves castle gardens several times until, following the victory a new home in nearby Archerfield. of the Scots in 1314, Robert the Bruce 1923 Castle taken into From the late 1700s the castle gardens ordered the demolition of the castle state care were developed, with the castle itself to prevent it ever being used against . as an elaborate garden ornament. The the Scots again. However, significant gardens continued to be developed portions of this early castle survive. in Victorian times and into the 1920s Dirleton passed by marriage to the when the castle was taken into state Halyburton family in about 1350. In care. time they rebuilt the battle-scarred Dirleton Castle from the bowling green HISTORIC SCOTLAND education dirleton castle 3 Supporting learning and teaching A visit to Direlton Castle is Before the visit: Working on site particularly appropriate for teachers working on class • Help pupils gain a clearer grasp of When exploring the castle, pupils study topics such as: the time scale by making a time should be encouraged to look critically • The Middle Ages line with them, counting back the at what they see, and to make and test • Castles centuries and then marking on key theories based on physical evidence. events. It may help to identify the Useful starting points are: The Curriculum for different periods of construction by Excellence aspires to • Why do you think the castle was built the different families. This could be motivate and challenge pupils here? What are its natural defences? through a wide range of added to after the visit. varied learning experiences. • What evidence is there for everyday • Discuss the organisation of Site visits have a particular life ( eg eating, heating, toilets and life in a castle. Pupils could role to play in joining up washing)? learning outcomes across the investigate the roles of these key curriculum. A visit, and use of ‘managers’: steward (household • What evidence is there to tell us the supporting materials, will staff); constable (security and about the owners of the castle? help to: defence); marshal (transport and • How has the castle changed over the • develop successful communications), chaplain (writing years? learners by challenging and spiritual matters). pupils to consider how life Pupils can record evidence by taking has changed for people. • Discuss with pupils all the different notes, sketching, taking photographs, It will help them to think activities which would have gone recording impressions into a tape critically about evidence on in a castle. Pupils could research recorder. and arrive at their own different topics (e.g. food, travel, conclusions. On the Historic Scotland website: entertainment, weapons) to prepare www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ • develop confident them for the visit. individuals. Pupils wilI education_unit teachers can find learn about aspects of their • It is helpful if pupils have some of additional resources to help with work community’s past, develop the architectural terminology of on site. These include compiling an an understanding of social castles as this makes discussing Evidence Record and a My Impressions changes, establish some on site easier. Useful words might Record. of their own values and include: courtyard, chamber, communicate their views Suggestions for follow-up work on different historical and drawbridge, portcullis, dovecot, shield, social issues. archway, gun loop, turnpike stair, Following the visit pupils can pool their battlement, curtain wall, beam. Pupils • develop responsible findings in groups to create a fuller citizens. It will help to could produce a class illustrated record of the castle and the lives of the increase pupils’ social dictionary to explain these terms people who lived and worked there. and historical knowledge • Some children find it hard to This could form the basis for a range of and understanding and presentation activities, for example: encourage greater respect imagine that a castle was ever for their own historic and anything other than a ruin. Discuss • A guide book or promotional leaflet built environment. how wind and weather can affect for future visitors the look of a building as well as the • develop effective • A slide show with commentary of contributors by broadening deliberate changes that people their visit pupils’ knowledge and choose to make to buildings. understanding through • Imaginative writing based on the • There is plenty of good evidence investigative, creative and lives of the inhabitants or attackers of critical thinking. on site relating to defending and the castle attacking castles. Discuss with pupils the range of ways that castles could • A series of drama sketches showing be attacked and defended. different snapshots of life in the castle through the ages HISTORIC SCOTLAND education dirleton castle 4 Plan of the Dirleton Castles On the trail of the Dirleton Castle Our suggested tour route guides you and your pupils around the complex site at Dirleton and helps you to make sense of the different ruins remaining from different ages. The route is broadly chronological, but it doesn’t really 4 matter if you do it in a different order. 5 After checking in with the steward we suggest you 3b visit nine key locations, 9 marked on the plan to 3a the right: 1. Outside Dirleton 7 Castle 6b 2. The Drawbridge and Gatehouse 3. The Lord’s Hall and 8 Withdrawing Room 4. The Halyburton Great 6a Hall 5. The Kitchens 2b 6. The Bakehouse and Vaults 1 7. The Prison and Pit 2 8. The Ruthven Lodgings 9. The Dovecot Background information is given in the pack for each location. It is written in simple language so that it can be read aloud to pupils Note: the current steward has a model of the castle as it might have looked in 1450 if desired. Also included which he is happy to show to pupils. are suggested questions for discussion.The focus is on encouraging pupils to interpret the building and deduce what they can from clues they see around them. Allow about an hour. HISTORIC SCOTLAND education dirleton castle 5 Tour notes: On the trail of Did you know... If you look out to sea you Dirleton Castle might be able to see the From the steward’s office, go through into the gardens. Walk round the bowling Isle of Fidra. This used to green and up the middle path to the castle. Turn right and go to the corner of the belong to the de Vaux castle, where a tongue of rock juts out on to the grass. family too. Historians Location 1 : Outside Dirleton Castle think that they might Background information for teachers.
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