Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for Thirlestane Castle

Thirlestane Castle, the seat of the Earl of Lauderdale, in Lauder parish, Berwickshire, on the right bank of Leader Water, 3 furlongs NE of Lauder town. Originally a strong tower called Lauder Fort, built by Edward I. during his invasion of Scotland, it was renovated or rebuilt by Chancellor Maitland, and acquired from the Duke of Lauderdale a new front and wings, together with great interior improvements. It now is a massive and stately pile, partly ancient and partly modern, whose decorations are mainly in the style of Charles II.'s reign. Sir Richard de Maitland was lord of Thirlestane in the latter half of the 13th century, and among his descendants were the blind poet, Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington (1496-1586); William Maitland, Secretary Lethington (1525-73), the 'Chameleon;' Sir John or Chancellor Maitland (153795), created Lord Maitland of Thirlestane in 1590; John, second Lord Maitland (d. 1645), created Earl of Lauderdale in 1624; John, second Earl (1616-82), created Duke of Lauderdale in 1672, of Cabal fame; and Charles, twelfth Earl (1822-84), who was killed by lightning whilst grouse-shooting near Lauder, and who held 25,512 acres, valued at £17,320 per annum. The title is now claimed by Major Henry Maitland (b. 1840), who is third in descent from the fourth son of the sixth Earl, and by Sir James Gibson-Maitland, Bart., of Sauchie (b. 1848), who is fourth in descent from his fifth son.—Ord. Sur., sh. 25, 1865.


(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "the seat"   (ADL Feature Type: "residential sites")
Administrative units: Lauder ScoP       Berwickshire ScoCnty

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