What is recorded here

Crichton Castle rose in Midlothian during the late 14th century as a tower house for John de Crichton, but it became a stage for bloody ambition when his son William helped organise the Black Dinner. The castle changed hands repeatedly, suffered capture in 1559, and even hosted Mary, Queen of Scots, for a few nights during a wedding in 1562. Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell, later added an Italianate north range with a diamond-patterned facade, yet the place still decayed into ruins after Bothwell was accused of witchcraft.

Scotland's National Record of the Historic Environment records Crichton Castle as Castle (medieval). The official map says its point is accurate as follows: NGR given to the nearest 1m. The record does not by itself mean that the public may enter the place.

Crichton Castle was built in the late 14th century by the Pringle family and later held by the Crichton family, becoming a key stronghold in the Lothian region. It is remembered for its strategic role in Scottish history and its well-preserved medieval architecture.

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