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Rothesay Castle is in the town of Rothesay on the
Isle of Bute, 42 miles west of Glasgow, with
regular Trains between Glasgow and Wemyss Bay,
where there are regular Ferries.
The original Castle was built from the early
1200s for Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of
Scotland, when Scottish Kings were trying to
take control of the Western Isles. Many of the
Western Isles had been under control of the
Norse / Vikings since the late 700s.
The Castle is open for visits 1st April -
30th September, 7 days, 9.30am - 5.00pm, 1 Oct
- 31 Mar, 10am to 4pm, closed Thurs and Fri in
winter. Postcode: PA20 0DA
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The image top is from the Main Square in
Rothesay looking towards the Castle. The Main
Square is next to the Ferry Terminal in
Rothesay.
The next images are of the entrance to
Rothesay Castle, with a Bridge across the
Moat.
One of the first Rooms has a Video giving
the the History of the Castle.
The Great Hall is the most impressive part
of the Castle, with good views over the
Town.
The Chapel is in the Courtyard, with steps
next to the Chapel to the top of the Ramparts
for great views over the Town, and over to the
Mainland.
Rothesay Castle History
700s late - the Norse / Vikings start to
take control of Islands in the north and west
of Scotland.
1098 - a Norse King named Magnus Barelegs
built a Wooden Fort at Rothesay.
1200s early - William the Lion, King of
Scotland, takes control of the Firth of Clyde
and Isle of Bute area from the Norse.
1200s early - William the Lion awards the
Lands of the Isle of Bute to his relations the
Stewards.
1200s early - Rothesay Castle is built for
the Stewards where the Norse Fort had
stood.
The Stewards are known as the High Stewards
of Scotland, with them becoming the Stewart's,
then Stuart's.
1230 - the Norse capture the Castle after a
three day siege. They failed to hold on to the
Castle for long.
1263 July - the Norse under Haakon IV took
control of Rothesay Castle for a short
time.
1263 2nd October - the Norse fought the
Scots troops of King Alexander III at Largs on
the Scottish Mainland.
The Battle of Largs was indecisive, but lead
to the Norse withdrawing from the Western
Isles.
1266 - the Treaty of Perth sees the Norse
agree to the Western Isles being ruled by
Scotland Kings.
1286 - King Alexander III died with no
family to take over, leading to conflicts over
who should be the next King.
1290s late - forces of the English King
Edward I take control of Rothesay Castle during
the First Scottish War of Independence, a
time the English wanted to control
Scotland.
1306 - the Scots re-take the Castle after a
naval attack led by Sir Robert Boyd of
Cunningham, fighting for Robert the Bruce, who
had been crowned King of Scotland that
year.
1333 - the English re-take Rothesay Castle
for a short time after the Battle of Halidon
Hill, during the Second Scottish War of
Independence.
1371 - the death of King David II (Bruce)
led to the Crown passing to Robert Stewart,
High Steward of Scotland.
Robert Stewart was the Grandson of Robert
the Bruce, first of the Stewart Kings, with
Rothesay Castle then becoming a Royal
residence, with 5 Stuart Kings often living in
the Castle.
1498 - King James IV made his relation
Ninian Stewart keeper of Rothesay Castle, with
this line of Stuart's becoming the Earls of
Bute, then later Marquesses of Bute.
1534 - the Reformation in England led to
Catholic Worship being restricted.
1540s - the Gatehouse / Tower House, was
built for more luxurious accommodation, and the
Great Hall for entertaining by King James
V.
1603 - the Stuart Kings began living in
England after King James VI of Scotland became
King of England as well, after the death of his
relation Queen Elizabeth I of England.
1650 - 1659 - during the English Civil War,
the Castle was occupied by forces of Oliver
Cromwell, a time many Scots were trying to have
the Stuart Kings restored to the Throne.
1660 - the Stuart Kings were restored to the
throne.
1685 - Archibald Campbell, Earl of Argyll,
caused serious damage to Rothesay Castle when
he led a revolt against King James VII (II of
England). This failed revolt was over King
James being a Catholic.
The Castle fell into ruin from that time
with the Stuart's living in a Mansion on
Rothesay High Street.
1688 - King James VII was overthrown by his
daughter Mary II who was a Protestant.
1707 - the Union between Scotland and
England leads to Scotland becoming a safer
place. Scottish landowners soon begin building
grand Mansions to live in rather than their
Castles.
1719 - Mount Stuart House is
built on the Isle of Bute, 4 miles south of
Rothesay, for John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd
Marquess of Bute, can now be visited.
1800s early - the Gatehouse of Rothesay
Castle was used as a Gun Powder store during
the Napoleonic Wars.
1872 - 1879 - Rothesay Castle is partially
restored for the 3rd Marquess of Bute.
1877 - Mount Stuart house was dammaged by
fire, soon rebuilt in Gothic Revival style for
John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute.
1951 - Rothesay Castle was gifted to
Historic Scotland to serve as a Museum. The
Green Lady Ghost is soon seen by some
visitors.
2015 - Sally the Seagull nicks three golf
balls from Rothesay Golf Club, taking them to
her nest on top of the Castle, two Top Flite
and one Ultra. Sally Photo.
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