Old Photograph Cranshaws Castle Scotland

Old photograph of Cranshaws Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland. This Scottish castle is thought to be the inspiration for Ravenswood Castle, the home of Edgar, hero of Sir Walter Scott's tragedy the Bride of Lammermoor. The lands of Cranshaws were originally part of the Barony of Bothwell, which barony was created for David Olifard, ancestor of the current chief of the Clan Oliphant, by King Malcolm IV in the middle of the 12th century. Occupancy was then granted to a younger Olifard son, with whose line the estate remained for some centuries. In 1329, the senior representative of the younger line but now 7th chief, William Oliphant, Lord of Aberdalgie, died and amongst the properties which he left was Cranshaws, which he had inherited from his Olifard forebears. In 1401 Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas bestowed Cranshaws upon Sir John Swinton, 14th of that Ilk whom the Earl calls " dilectus consanguineus nostra " meaning our beloved cousin " thus dispossessing the Oliphants. Following Swinton's death at the Battle of Homildon Hill the following year, the lands passed to his son Sir John Swinton, 15th of that Ilk, who is thought to have built the existing castle.



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