Crichton Castle & Church

When first built by the Crichtons in 1400 it was half as tall again, 75ft rather than the 50ft it was reduced to by later alterations. Within the defensive barmkin wall would have been a number of outbuildings serving the tower house.

An early owner was William Crichton, Sheriff of Edinburgh, Keeper of Edinburgh Castle and Chancellor of Scotland. And a man not above inviting the 6th Earl of Douglas and his younger brother to dinner at Edinburgh Castle in 1440 before having them both killed. In retribution the Douglases stormed Crichton Castle and severely damaged it.

By 1450 William Crichton had not just repaired Crichton Castle, he had also greatly extended it. In doing so he built most of the castle you see today. The existing tower house was complemented by three new ranges surrounding a courtyard and a south west tower, and within the south range he built a great hall. He also built the collegiate church at the same time.