What is recorded here

Melgund Castle stands two kilometres east of Aberlemno as a partially restored sixteenth-century tower house where Cardinal David Beaton housed his mistress Marion Ogilvy and their children. He bought timber from a St Andrews merchant in 1543 and shipped it to Arbroath, filling the stones with domestic life rather than distant grandeur. The keep still bears his initials on a carved shield, while the eastern range remains ruined beside the new roof, preserving both the cardinal’s ambition and the later family that held the place until 1990.

Scotland's National Record of the Historic Environment records Melgund 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.

Melgund Castle was built in the 13th century by the de Melgund family, a minor noble lineage in the Scottish Borders. The castle is remembered for its strategic role in the turbulent history of the region, particularly during conflicts between Scotland and England.

The historic-place record does not grant public access. Check current conditions and ownership before entering land or a building.