The wedding reception is being held at Dalhousie Castle (click here to view their website - link opens in a new window).

To see the steetmap.co.uk map of how to get to Dalhousie, click here (link opens in new window). You need to be on the B704 and then there is a road which leads under the B704 to the castle, which is signposted.

History of the Castle

Dalhousie Castle dates back to the 13th Century and was originally built by the Ramsays of Dalhousie, a noble Scottish family descended from Simundus de Ramseia, who in about 1140 followed King David I to Scotland from the Huntingdonshire village of Ramsay. Of the original Castle structure, only the enormously thick foundation walls and vaulted dungeons remain, the rest of the present-day building was constructed around 1450 from hard, pink sandstone, quarried from the banks of the nearby River South Esk. Although later structural changes were made to the Castle, it’s original shape, and inner L-shaped keep surrounding by an outer curtain wall, can be seen today. During the 15th Century, the imposing drum tower was added. Finally in 1633 William the first Earl of Dalhousie, built out to the curtain wall from the keep.

In years past, access to the Castle was only possible by crossing a drawbridge over a deep, dry moat. When the Castle was re-planned as a hotel in 1972, the moat was partially re-excavated and various features renovated. You can see for instance, the machicolations above the main door. These are parapets with openings through which defenders dropped missiles or poured burning boiling oil upon imperiled assailants beneath. Also above the main door, the original recesses for the counter balance beams of the drawbridge raising the mechanism, or rainures, are clearly visible.

Once inside Dalhousie Castle you will see differing decors. This variation has been caused partly because of the Castle’s structural development over the centuries, and partly because William Burn, the architect entrusted with the last major renovation in 1825, was famous for his large stylistic repertoire. You will find yourself walking from the entrance hall, up the miniature Imperial staircase, across the mezzanine landing known as the Quarterdeck, past the canopied Gothic niche on its further wall, turning right into the Library, complete with its Rococo ceiling, extensive pinnacled Gothic shelving, and a secret bar (a post-Burn comfort). Other interesting features include the mural staircase which leads down from the banqueting hall to the dungeons, and the narrow spiral staircase dropping down from what was the fist floor of the keep, to the top of the forbidding bottle dungeon. From here, prisoners where lowered into the ten-foot square, windowless chamber by rope. You can still see the chilling score marks in the stonework.

The Ramsays of Dalhousie are a family which notably has retained possession of its Castle longer than any other family in Scotland. The name Ramsay first appears in Midlothian records at the beginning on the 13th Century, and has had important links with Scottish and world history ever since. Edward I, King of England from 1272 to 1307 was the first sovereign to recognize the then resident William Ramsay’s absolute land rights over Dalhousie Castle.

The King even spent a night at the Castle before going on to Falkirk, where he defeated the Scottish resistor William Wallace. However, the fealty sworn to England seemed to be rather short lived, and William Ramsay was soon to be fighting at the Battle of Bannockburn against the English, on the side of Robert the Bruce.

In 1320, William Ramsay signed the famous declaration of Arbroath in which the Scottish barons, appealed to the Pope against the oppressions of the English.

William was succeeded by his son Alexander, who plotted and fought fearlessly to protect his beloved Scottish people from the progressive ambitions of the English and was instrumental in the re-capture of nearby Dubar Castle in 1338. Four years later, he led a surprise attack on Roxburgh Castle, the last Scottish stronghold occupied by the English invaders, and his assault led to a successful liberation. King David II of Scotland rewarded Alexander by appointing him constable of Roxburgh, and sheriff of nearby Teviotdale. Tragically the previous constable, who had failed on a number of occasions to re-capture his own Castle, was so envious of his successor’s acknowledged triumph that he seized Alexander, carried him off to Hermitage Castle, and let him starve to death in the dungeon. Four and a half centuries later his remains, along with his horse furniture, were discovered by masons working in the Castle. The local minister heard of the discovery and sent Alexander’s curb bridle and stirrup to Sir Walter Scott, the famous novelist, who in turn passed them on to his friend, the Ninth Earl of Dalhousie.