Ferniehirst Castle
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Ferniehirst Castle by Walter Baxter as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
There are currently over 7.5m images from over 14,400 individuals and you can help contribute to the project by visiting https://www.geograph.org.uk
Image: © Walter Baxter Taken: 31 Jul 2010
Ferniehirst Castle, dating from the late 15th century, stands above the east bank of the Jed Water and is the seat of the Lothian branch of the Kerr family. The castle was attacked by English armies in the 16th century and in 1593 it was almost completely destroyed by James VI to punish Sir Thomas Kerr for his loyalty to Mary Queen of Scots. The castle was rebuilt in 1598 and occupied for 200 years until it fell into disrepair. Restoration work took place in the 19th century and the Youth Hostel Association leased the castle between 1933 and 1984, apart from the war years when troops were billeted here. A major restoration project was carried out between 1984 and 1987 by the 12th Lord Lothian, and the castle is open to the public throughout July, except Mondays. The gable wall on the left is the only surviving remains of a coach house and stables. (Source: Ferniehirst Castle information leaflet and booklet).