Thirlestane Castle, Berwickshire, United Kingdom

Thirlestane Castle, located near Lauder in the Scottish Borders, has been the ancestral home of the Maitland family since 1587. Originally a medieval fort, the site saw significant expansion in the 1670s under John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, who transformed it into a grand residence with additions like twin towers and lavish staterooms, designed by Sir William Bruce. The 19th century brought further extensions by architects David Bryce and William Burn, making it a Scottish country mansion.

During World War II, the castle housed an evacuated girls' school, and by the mid-20th century, it had fallen into disrepair. In 1972, Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew inherited the property and oversaw extensive renovations, eventually placing it under a charitable trust in 1984. Today, Thirlestane is open to the public, featuring collections of paintings, furniture, and a historic toy collection. In 2021, plans were approved to build holiday lodges within the castle grounds, adding to its appeal as a historical and tourist destination.

Palaces, manors and town halls in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Sarah Morrin (2 months ago)
A fabulous guided tour. The guide answered our questions well. It was intriguing yo hear the myth, history and legends of the castle. The history of the 19 Earls was fascinating. Beautiful decor and fabulous plastered ceilings. An extra gem was all the vintage toys in the nursery. Even an original Paddington Bear.

Rochelle Stapp (2 months ago)
I was supposed to get married here but my ex had other plans. Anyways, the staff were fantastic to work with and, when my wedding was canceled, they offered me a two night stay. I’ve never felt happier. If you’re just visiting or getting married, I’d highly recommend!!

David Richards (3 months ago)
We didn't actually visit the castle but were there for a recording/filming of the Antiques Roadshow. There was a lot of queuing but it was well worth it and we received favourable valuations for the two pictures we took. We met the owner of the castle and had a great conversation about Deerhounds. We will certainly return before too long.

James Murray (3 months ago)
Booked tour. Excellent and well informed guides. Very interesting and historic building. Beautiful interiors, some stunning art on show.

Isaías Faria Silva (4 months ago)
Beautiful, beautiful and beautiful - toilets available - lots of green spaces - suitable for events like weddings and birthdays - it is also a museum with lots of arts and pictures

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Bela Lindtner

Historic Site of the week

Gravensteen

The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means 'castle of the counts' in Dutch. Arnulf I (918–965), Count of Flanders, was the first to fortify this place, building a medieval bastion on this high sand dune, naturally protected by the river Leie and its marshy banks. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood.

In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The monumental stone staircase, the light openings, the fireplaces built into the walls and the latrines were signs of considerable luxury and comfort in those days. There was probably also a tower.

Thirlestane Castle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Gravensteen