Towie Barclay Castle, 16th-century castle near Turriff, Scotland
Towie Barclay Castle is a tower house of the 16th century near Turriff in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, built from heavy stone with thick outer walls and vaulted interior spaces. The plan follows the L-shaped layout typical of Scottish tower houses of that period.
The castle was built by the Barclay family in 1593 and became caught up in regional conflicts during the 1600s that shook Scotland at the time. It was later abandoned by the family and fell into long neglect before being restored in the 20th century.
The name of the castle recalls the Barclay family, who shaped this corner of northeast Scotland for generations. Inside, decorated corbels carved into the stone walls give a sense of how carefully the original builders finished the interior.
Access to the castle must be arranged in advance, as it is not open to passing visitors. It is worth contacting the manager directly to find out which parts of the building can be seen during a visit.
The castle is said to be near the spot where the first casualty of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms fell in 1639, a conflict that shook England, Scotland, and Ireland at the same time. This little-noticed connection makes the building an unexpected starting point for understanding that chapter of British history.
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