SavillsA castle built by the family of King Robert the Bruce has gone on sale with an asking price of £8m.
Earlshall Castle, in Leuchars, Fife, includes ten bedrooms, a five-car garage, world-famous walled gardens and 53 acres of land.
The 16th century home takes its name from the hunting lodge of The Erlishall owned by the Earls of Fife, relatives of King Robert de Bruce.
SavillsSir William Bruce began building the castle in 1546.
It was built with large windows rather than narrow slit windows used for defence. Musket loops and smaller openings were provided in strategic places as an insurance against armed incursion.
SavillsThe property has a storied past and has seen visits from royalty and other major figures in Scottish history.
Sir William received Mary Queen of Scots at Earlshall in 1561. Later James VI of Scotland who became James I of England also visited.
SavillsBoth monarchs would have ridden from the royal palace of Falkland to hunt at Earlshall.
The dining hall, known as the Long Gallery, features a painted ceiling created by Dame Agnes Lindsay and Sir William.
SavillsAcross the full length of the 50-foot long roof are the coats of arms of European royalty, Scottish noble families and imaginary nobles.
The Baron would sit directly beneath the royal coat of arms when holding his Courts of Barony – signifying that his powers of justice came directly from the King.
SavillsSir Andrew the Bloody Bruce was the most notorious Baron of Earlshall
An officer of Claverhouse’s dragoons he won the Battle of Killiecrankie and earned his name in his brutal putting down of the Covenanters. His footsteps are said to be heard on the spiral stairs of Earlshall to this day.
SavillsWhen the line of Bruces died out in 1708, the castle was inherited by Henderson of Fordell.
His family sold it in 1824. No maintenance was carried out and it gradually slipped into a state of dereliction.
SavillsRobert Mackenzie from Perth, purchased the castle in 1890 and employed a young Robert Lorimer to carry out its restoration.
Lorimer went onto be considered Scotland’s greatest architect with Earlshall thought of as one of his finest works.
SavillsBeyond the main property itself, the estate includes three cottages, a magnificent walled garden and acres of park and woodland.
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