Castle Campbell



Castle Campbell, lowland seat of the Duke of Argyll, is a medieval castle situated above the town of Dollar, Clackmannanshire, in central Scotland. It was the seat of the earls and dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell, and was visited by Mary, Queen of Scots, in the 16th century.

History
The tower house was built in the early 15th century and was known as Castle Glume. The castle was originally a property of the Clan Stuart but passed by marriage to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll and Lord Chancellor of Scotland. He had the name of the castle changed to Castle Campbell by an Act of Parliament in 1489. The Hall Range was constructed about 1500 and would originally have provided additional lodging and public reception.

In 1645, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, the Royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, led an attack in which the Clan Ogilvy, seeking revenge for the burning of the "Bonnie House of Airlie" and other strongholds of the clan, along with the Macleans, overran the castle but apparently failed to destroy it. After the killing of King Charles I, the Campbells supported Charles II against Oliver Cromwell, although Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, later switched his allegiance to Cromwell. Cromwell's forces occupied the castle in 1653, and it was burned in 1654 by the Scots in retaliation for Campbell's support of Cromwell. Only part of the castle was restored, and its use as a residence ended. Just seven years later the 8th Earl of Argyll was executed for treason to the king.

In 1948 Castle Campbell was given into the care of the Government. It is now administered by Historic Scotland.