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Curriehill Castle

Curriehill Castle was said to have been of some importance in the 16th century, although nothing now remains of it, except for the street name Curriehill Castle Drive.

The site occupies the high point of a ridge between the Water of Leith to the south and the Murray Burn to the north.

In the 16th century Curriehill was occupied by the Skene family, with Sir John Skene being created Lord Curriehill in 1594 when he was appointed Lord Clerk Register and Lord of Session. However they may have been renting the property initially, or it may have been in another branch of the family, as a charter states that the lands of Curriehill were bought by Sir John Skene in 1594 for 20,000 merks.

The same family owned Hallyards Castle further to the west.

During the time of Mary Queen of Scots, Curriehill Castle was one of six castles on the Water of Leith, three on each side, involved in a campaign by the Regent, the Earl of Morton, against the Queen. While Lennox Tower across the Water of Leith was loyal to the Queen, Curriehill was held in favour of her infant son, James VI.

In December 1656, Sir John’s son, also Sir John Skene, sold Curriehill to a Samuel Johnstone and apparently left for Germany with a regiment of foot he had himself raised. This may be connected in some way with many Skenes going into exile and entering the service of Gustav II Adolf of Sweden 20 years earlier following Clan Skene’s support for Charles I. Johnstone was an advocate whose sister Rachel was married to Sir James Skene of Curriehill.

By the late 18th century the castle was in ruins. During the first half of the 19th century, John Marshall, a barrister in Edinburgh and later created Lord Curriehill, bought the estate of Curriehill, which included the ruins of the castle.

In 1856 Curriehill House was built for Marshall, and two small portions of castle wall were apparently incorporated into the walls of a barn. In the 1960s the barn was still standing, although it was unclear if any of its walls represented part of Curriehill Castle.

In the 1970s a housing estate was built around Curriehill House but nothing remains of Curriehill Castle.

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Alternative names for Curriehill Castle

Currie Hill; Currie-Hill; Curriehill House; Curryhill

Surnames associated with Curriehill Castle

Johnstone

Skene

Where is Curriehill Castle?

Curriehill Castle is in the parish of Currie and the county of Midlothian.

Grid reference: NT 1660 6750

Lat / long: 55.89343166, -3.33373478

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

OS Map for Curriehill Castle

OS map 344
Pentland Hills (Penicuik & West Linton)
OS Explorer map 344


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


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Directions to Curriehill Castle

Enter a starting point

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Weather at Curriehill Castle

13°C
max 14°C / min 12°C
30km/h W
1007mb
73%
40%
03:27 21:03

Scattered clouds
Weather observed at Balerno at 18:37

References (books)

Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh, Volume 3
James Grant
London, 1883
Memorials of the family of Skene of Skene
William Forbes Skene
Aberdeen, 1887
New Statistical Account of Scotland
Various
Edinburgh, 1845
Statistical Account of Scotland
Various
Edinburgh, 1799

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Curriehill Castle

Lennox Tower

0.8km away

Malleny House

1.0km away

Riccarton (site of)

1.9km away

Malleny Castle (site of)

2.1km away

Addistoun (site of)

2.2km away

Dalmahoy (site of)

2.5km away

Hermiston (site of)

2.8km away

Kilbaberton Tower (site of)

2.9km away

House of Cockburn

3.0km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Curriehill Castle

Kaimes Hill fort

3.7km away

Lochend standing stone

6.5km away

Wester Craiglockhart Hill fort

6.6km away

Huly Hill barrow and standing stones

6.7km away

Castle Law fort

7.2km away

Castle Law souterrain

7.2km away

Cammo Stone standing stone

7.2km away

Caiy Stane standing stone and rock art

7.6km away

Cat Stanes (site of) cairns

7.8km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Curriehill Castle

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

10.3km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

10.8km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

10.8km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

34.3km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

34.3km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

34.7km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

34.7km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

35.1km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

36.6km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Curriehill Castle

Borland silver chain

23.8km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

25.3km away

Haddington silver chain

35.3km away

Whitlaw silver chain

38.4km away

Traprain Law silver chain

42.2km away

Norrie's Law hoard

46.6km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

59.2km away

Hoardweel silver chain

62.4km away

Dunnicaer fort

137.6km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Curriehill Castle

Heriot-Watt University
hotelEdinburgh
1.9km away
Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club
hotelKirknewton
2.6km away
Novotel Edinburgh Park
hotelEdinburgh
4.0km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Park (The Gyle)
hotel, restaurant, café, barEdinburgh
4.2km away
Alvar House
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
4.6km away
Ture Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
5.3km away
Norton House Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
5.4km away
Marriott Edinburgh
hotelEdinburgh
5.5km away
A Room In The Country
bed and breakfastKirknewton
5.5km away
Hostival – Carnival Camp
hostel, campsite, barEdinburgh
5.7km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Curriehill Castle

Premier Inn Edinburgh Park (The Gyle)
hotel, restaurant, café, barEdinburgh
4.2km away
Norton House Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
5.4km away
Hostival – Carnival Camp
hostel, campsite, barEdinburgh
5.7km away
Holiday Inn Edinburgh
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
6.9km away
Best Western Edinburgh Capital Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
7.7km away
Best Western Braid Hills Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
8.0km away
Hampton Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
8.1km away
Caley Sample Room
bar, restaurantEdinburgh
8.3km away
Ardmillan Hotel
hotel, barEdinburgh
8.4km away
The Waiting Room
barEdinburgh
8.5km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 14th of May 2010 at 1:57 pm. Updated on the 11th of December 2019 at 9:56 am.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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