Castle Campbell, Dollar, Scotland

[UNVERIFIED CONTENT] The remain of the ruin stands on a narrow ridge, on the Ochil Hills, overlooking Dollar, Clackmannanshire, Scotland Two ravines hem it in on either side, The oldest part of the stone castle was built in the early 15th century. At that time it was called Castle Glume, and in 1465 it passed through marriage to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll. The Highland chief needed a Lowland seat at the heart of the realm, and in reach of the main centres of the royal court. In 1489, the earl changed the name to Castle Campbell. And there the Campbells stayed for the next 200 years, until they relocated to Argylls Lodging, beside Stirling Castle. Castle Campbell is one of Scotlands best preserved tower house castles. The tower house itself served as the family residence., it dominated the courtyard. The service access was at ground level, but the main entrance was at first-floor level, the norm at this date. Inside were four floors of accommodation a storage cellar at ground level, a hall on the first floor and private chambers on the two upper floors. These latter were altered around 1600, and the fine vaulted ceiling at the top, with its two grotesque carvings representing the Green Man, dates from then. Across the courtyard, the Campbells added a two-storey range. On its first floor was the great hall, for use as the principal reception and banqueting suite. A withdrawing chamber lay at one end and the court kitchen at the other. Below was a row of vaulted storerooms. In its overall appearance, this range bears a striking resemblance to the royal lodging in Stirling Castle, known as the Kings Old Building, built for James IV in the 1490s. The earl would have been a frequent visitor to the royal castle, and clearly wanted to follow suit. The castle was visited by all sorts of important personages. They included John Knox, the Protestant preacher, in 1556, and Mary Queen of Scots in 1563.