Delgatie Castle

Over het museum

Delgatie Castle stands near Turriff in Aberdeenshire and, according to the castle itself, dates back to the eleventh century. It has been held largely by the Hay family for some 650 years, after it was taken from the Earl of Buchan following the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here for three days after the Battle of Corrichie in 1562, and the bedchamber she used can still be seen. Like many Scottish castles, Delgatie was rebuilt in the sixteenth century to withstand siege guns, with walls between 8 and 16 feet thick, and the main tower with its battlement walk was completed in 1579. Two wings with a chapel, dovecote and kitchen quarters were added in 1743.

The castle's most famous feature is its painted ceilings, some of them dating from the 1570s and regarded as among the finest in Scotland; strange animals, some with human heads, decorate them. In May 1639 the Trot of Turriff, an early skirmish of the Covenanters' war with the Royalists, was fought near the castle.

By the twentieth century dry rot and water damage had left the building in a ruinous state, and during the Second World War troops used its rooms as temporary barracks. Captain John Hay of Delgatie and his wife Everild devoted decades to restoring it, and he wanted it to remain the Clan Hay Centre and a lived-in home rather than a polished museum. Today it is run by the Delgatie Castle Trust, a registered charity, which opens it to visitors every day and also offers a tearoom, weddings and holiday accommodation.

Hoogtepunten

• Painted ceilings from the 1570s, among the finest in Scotland
• Bedchamber used by Mary, Queen of Scots in 1562
• Clan Hay Centre in a restored family home
• Laird's Kitchen tearoom with home baking
• Castle apartments and a coach house for holiday stays

Vaste collectie

• Painted ceilings – Sixteenth-century painted ceilings decorated with strange animals, some with human heads, regarded as among the finest in Scotland.
• Mary, Queen of Scots' bedchamber – The room where the queen is said to have stayed for three days in 1562, shown to visitors.
• Clan Hay Centre – The castle serves as the centre of Clan Hay and is presented as a much-loved family home restored over many years.

Opgericht

1049

Beheerder

Delgatie Castle Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk: geen informatie
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

There is a small car park at the front of the castle by the entrance for visitors who cannot manage the walk from the main car park.

Kinderen & gezin

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The castle is about two miles east of Turriff; a minor road leaves the A947 north-east of the town and a signposted drive leads to the car park in the woods.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The Laird's Kitchen tearoom serves teas, coffees, home baking, soups and light lunches, with takeaway drinks and food, and afternoon teas on request; tables are booked by phone or message. The castle also has a shop.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 55 personen.

The castle is an intimate wedding venue for up to 55 guests, with one wedding at a time and catering from its own kitchen. Accommodation is available in the castle apartments and the Coach House on a self-catering basis.