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Corstorphine Castle

Ruins of Corstorphine Castle, From a Pen and Ink Drawing dated 1777
A Mid-Lothian VillageEdinburgh, 1890

Corstorphine Castle was built by Sir Adam Forrester some time between 1374, when he bought the lands of Corstorphine, and 1405, the year of his death. It was encircled by a curtain wall with a tower at each corner, and this was itself surrounded by a water-filled ditch, fed by the two lochs between which it stood – Corstorphine Loch and Gogar Loch.

The castle was demolished around 1797, and during the process a hoard of gold and silver coins was discovered. Despite the demolition traces of the castle were apparently still visible in 1854, although nothing now remains to be seen and the site falls within the garden of 22 Castle Avenue. A 16th century doocot belonging to the castle is still standing at Dovecot Road.

In April 1958 during the digging of foundation trenches on the Broomhall housing estate nearby (NT 1949 7231) workmen uncovered large boulders arranged in a linear fashion, suggesting the foundations of a large man-made structure. This may be something associated with Corstorphine Castle, or it may represent the remains of an earlier castle that was replaced by Corstorphine Castle. The workmen also found a 14th-15th century bronze armorial pendant, decorated with a hunting horn and traces of gilding.

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Alternative names for Corstorphine Castle

22 Castle Avenue

Clans associated with Corstorphine Castle

Forrester

Surnames associated with Corstorphine Castle

Forrester

Where is Corstorphine Castle?

Corstorphine Castle is in the parish of Edinburgh and the county of Midlothian.

Grid reference: NT 1993 7238

Lat / long: 55.93711325, -3.28239903

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

OS Map for Corstorphine Castle

OS map 350
Edinburgh (Musselburgh & Queensferry)
OS Explorer map 350


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Directions to Corstorphine Castle

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Weather at Corstorphine Castle

12°C
max 14°C / min 12°C
6km/h NE
1015mb
95%
75%
03:26 21:00

Moderate rain
Weather observed at Colinton at 05:33
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References (books)

A Mid-Lothian Village
G. Upton Selway
Edinburgh, 1890

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore
Historic Environment Scotland

Castles near Corstorphine Castle

Broomhall (possible) (site of)

0.5km away

Stenhouse

1.9km away

Saughton Hall (site of)

2.1km away

Craigcrook Castle

2.2km away

Ravelston

2.3km away

Redhall Castle (site of)

2.7km away

Roseburn House

2.8km away

Barnton Castle (site of)

3.1km away

Kilbaberton Tower (site of)

3.2km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Corstorphine Castle

Cammo Stone standing stone

3.4km away

Wester Craiglockhart Hill fort

3.6km away

Edinburgh Castle fort

5.3km away

Buck Stane standing stone

5.5km away

Caiy Stane standing stone and rock art

5.8km away

Cat Stanes (site of) cairns

6.0km away

Camus Stone (site of) standing stone

6.3km away

Lochend standing stone

7.3km away

Samson's Ribs fort

7.5km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Corstorphine Castle

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

5.2km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

5.9km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

5.9km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

28.5km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

28.5km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

28.9km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

28.9km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

32.0km away

East Lomond Hill Class I symbol stone

34.1km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Corstorphine Castle

Borland silver chain

29.5km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

31.1km away

Haddington silver chain

31.4km away

Traprain Law silver chain

38.3km away

Whitlaw silver chain

38.5km away

Norrie's Law hoard

40.8km away

Hoardweel silver chain

59.9km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

65.0km away

Dunnicaer fort

131.7km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Corstorphine Castle

Agenda Hotel
hotelEdinburgh
0.6km away
Edinburgh Featherhall Garden Court Apartments
self-catering apartmentEdinburgh
0.7km away
Corstorphine Lodge Hotel
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
0.8km away
Dalmore Lodge Guest House
hotelEdinburgh
1.0km away
Holiday Inn Edinburgh
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
1.1km away
Marriott Edinburgh
hotelEdinburgh
1.7km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Park (The Gyle)
hotel, restaurant, café, barEdinburgh
1.8km away
Ardbrae House Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
1.9km away
Best Western Edinburgh Capital Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
2.1km away
Novotel Edinburgh Park
hotelEdinburgh
2.1km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Corstorphine Castle

Holiday Inn Edinburgh
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
1.1km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Park (The Gyle)
hotel, restaurant, café, barEdinburgh
1.8km away
Best Western Edinburgh Capital Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
2.1km away
Hampton Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
2.7km away
Holiday Inn Edinburgh City West
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
3.2km away
Ardmillan Hotel
hotel, barEdinburgh
3.5km away
Cumberland Hotel
hotel, barEdinburgh
3.5km away
Caley Sample Room
bar, restaurantEdinburgh
3.5km away
Apex Haymarket Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
3.8km away
Pâtisserie Jacob
caféEdinburgh
3.9km away
more food.... / more drink....

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A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 14th of May 2010 at 1:57 pm. Updated on the 14th of April 2020 at 4:12 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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