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Claypotts Castle

Claypotts Castle is a fine example of a Z-plan tower house, albeit on a small scale.

Built between 1569 and 1588 by John Strachan, it consists of a main rectangular block flanked by round towers at the south-west and north-east corners. This construction allowed defenders in the towers to fire at aggressors attacking the rectangular tower.

Claypotts Castle

The central tower consists of three storeys with a garret on top. The round towers also have three storeys, and are distinctive due to the square garrets perched on top of their round bases.

Claypotts Castle

Claypotts Castle

The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, Volume II
David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross, Edinburgh, 1887

Claypotts Castle

John Strachan died in 1593, and the castle remained in the Strachan family until it was sold to a neighbouring laird, Sir William Graham of Ballunie, in 1601. His son sold it to another Graham, Sir William Graham of Claverhouse, in 1620.

In 1678 Claverhouse’s grandson, John Graham of Claverhouse, the famous “Bonnie Dundee”, inherited Claypotts, but following his death at the Battle of Killiecrankie the estates were forfeited to the Crown.

William III granted the Claverhouse lands (including Claypotts) to James Douglas, the 2nd Marquess of Douglas in 1694, who is thought to have leased the castle to tenants.

When Lucy Elizabeth Montagu-Scott (whose mother was a Douglas) married Cospatrick Alexander Home, the 11th Earl of Home, Claypotts Castle passed into the Home (or Douglas-Home) family. Their grandson, Charles Douglas-Home, the 13th Earl of Home (and father of the British Prime Minister Alec-Douglas-Home), put the castle into state care in 1926.

Historic Scotland now maintain the castle, although the Douglas-Home family still own it.

stay in a castle

Alternative names for Claypotts Castle

Claypots Castle

Where is Claypotts Castle?

Claypotts Castle is in the parish of Dundee and the county of Angus.

Grid reference: NO 45279 31956

Lat / long: 56.47645, -2.889951

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Claypotts Castle

Dundee & Sidlaw Hills
OS Explorer map 380


Directions to Claypotts Castle

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Weather at Claypotts Castle

4°C
max 5°C / min 3°C
19km/h W
1010mb
87%
20%
08:31 16:12

Few clouds
Weather observed at Dundee City at 11:01

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore
Historic Environment Scotland
Wikipedia

Castles near Claypotts Castle

Pitkerro House

1.8km away

Broughty Castle

1.9km away

Ballumbie Castle

2.6km away

Tayport Castle (site of)

2.9km away

Ethiebeaton (possible) (site of)

3.4km away

Kingennie (site of)

3.6km away

Wedderburn Castle (site of)

3.8km away

Grange of Monifieth (site of)

3.8km away

Scotscraig (site of)

3.9km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Claypotts Castle

Craig Hill broch and fort

4.4km away

Laws Hill broch and fort

4.9km away

Ardestie souterrain and rock art

5.5km away

Woodhill cursus

6.9km away

Balgay Hill rock art

7.6km away

Balkemback stone circle

9.6km away

Balgarthno stone circle

9.9km away

Kilmany cursus

10.8km away

Balkello standing stone

10.9km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Claypotts Castle

Tealing Church Class II cross slab

7.7km away

Strathmartine 2 Class III recumbent stone

8.1km away

Strathmartine 1 Class I symbol stone

8.9km away

St Martin's Stone Class II cross-slab

9.6km away

Bullion Class I symbol stone

10.9km away

Benvie Class III cross slab

12.4km away

Creich Class I symbol stones

17.2km away

High Keillor Class I symbol stone

19.5km away

Walton Class I symbol stone

24.0km away
more Pictish stones....

Pictish sites near Claypotts Castle

Norrie's Law hoard

25.0km away

Traprain Law silver chain

58.5km away

Haddington silver chain

58.7km away

Dunnicaer fort

68.0km away

Hoardweel silver chain

79.2km away

Whitlaw silver chain

84.1km away

Nigg silver chain

86.1km away

Borland silver chain

94.0km away

Parkhill silver chain

94.2km away
more Pictish sites....

Accommodation near Claypotts Castle

The Hotel Broughty Ferry
hotelBroughty Ferry
1.0km away
The Fort Hotel
hotelBroughty Ferry
1.4km away
Ashley House Guest House
hotelBroughty Ferry
1.7km away
Marlee Guest House
bed and breakfastBroughty Ferry
1.8km away
Abertay Guest House
hotelBroughty Ferry
1.8km away
Best Western Woodlands Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBroughty Ferry
2.3km away
Premier Inn Dundee East
hotel, restaurantBroughty Ferry
2.4km away
Dundee Carlton Hotel
hotelDundee
2.9km away
The Milton Hotel
hotelMonifieth
3.6km away
Craigtay Hotel
hotelDundee
3.6km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Claypotts Castle

Best Western Woodlands Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBroughty Ferry
2.3km away
Premier Inn Dundee East
hotel, restaurantBroughty Ferry
2.4km away
Premier Inn Dundee (Monifieth)
hotel, restaurantMonifieth
3.9km away
Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa
hotel, bar, restaurantDundee
4.8km away
Papa Joe's Dundee
restaurantDundee
5.3km away
Premier Inn Dundee Centre
hotel, restaurantDundee
5.3km away
The Phoenix
pubDundee
5.6km away
Jute Café Bar
café, bar, restaurantDundee
5.6km away
Number Twenty Five
hotel, restaurant, barDundee
5.6km away
Best Western Queens Hotel, Dundee
hotel, restaurant, barDundee
5.7km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 20th of July 2010 at 2:49 pm. Updated on the 17th of July 2020 at 5:36 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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