investigating huntingtower castle

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1 Huntingtower Castle, just outside Perth, is associated with the Ruthvens, one of 16th century Scotland s most ruthless and influential families. investigating huntingtower castle Information for Teachers investigating historic sites

2 2 Timeline c1450 Castle first built 1480 Title of estate given to both Ruthven sons Early 1500s Gatehouse converted into east tower house; west tower house built right next to it 1565 Mary Queen of Scots visits while on honeymoon with Darnley 1582 James VI held here for ten months late 1500s West range added 1600 Ruthven family punished for role in Gowrie Conspiracy; castle name changed to Huntingtower Castle in crown hands 1663 Castle passed to Murrays, dukes of Atholl Late 1600s Space between towers filled in 1800 West range demolished Castle sold and used as accommodation for cloth factory workers 1912 Castle taken into state care. Huntingtower Castle is a delightful small castle just outside Perth. Its cosy, almost domestic atmosphere, complete with painted decoration belies its association with the Ruthvens, one of 16th century Scotland s most ruthless and influential families. Historical background For the first 150 years of its existence, Huntingtower Castle was known as the House of Ruthven and was home to the Ruthven family. In 1480 the two Ruthven sons were jointly given the right to the lands where the castle now is and this may have been why the two tower houses were built right next to each other. The western tower was built new, while the eastern tower was originally a gatehouse. Both towers had three storeys of accommodation, though the western tower includes a four-storey chamber block. A protecting curtain wall extended from the towers to enclose a courtyard to the north, where there would have been buildings such as stables and a long-gone west wing housing the hall. The eastern tower is remarkable for the painted wooden ceiling in the first floor hall. Dating from about 1540, the roof beams are brightly decorated with exuberant patterns and flowers. By the mid-16th century, the Ruthvens had other things on their mind than interior decor. Lord Ruthven was a ringleader in the murder of David Rizzio, the Catholic confidant of Mary Queen of Scots, and his son assisted with the imprisonment of Mary in Their Protestant sympathies persisted into the reign of the young James VI, who was captured while on a hunting trip and held hostage at the castle for ten months in 1582 before escaping, an event which became known as the Ruthven Raid. Another attempt to capture the king in 1600 resulted in the death of the captors and the abolition of the name Ruthven. Their property was forfeited to the crown and the name of the castle was changed to Huntingtower Castle. In 1663, ownership of the castle passed to the Murrays, later Dukes of Atholl, who remodelled the castle to make it look more like a residential home. They filled in the gap between the two towers and added large south facing windows. In 1805 the castle briefly became accommodation for cloth factory workers. It was handed over to state care in Huntingtower Castle from the south

3 Supporting learning and teaching A visit to Huntingtower Castle is particularly appropriate for teachers working on class study topics such as: The Middle Ages Castles The Curriculum for Excellence aspires to motivate and challenge pupils through a wide range of varied learning experiences. Site visits have a particular role to play in joining up learning outcomes across the curriculum. A visit, and use of the supporting materials, will help to: develop successful learners by challenging pupils to consider how life has changed for people. It will help them to think critically about evidence and arrive at their own conclusions. develop confident individuals. Pupils wili learn about aspects of their community s past, develop an understanding of social changes, establish some of their own values and communicate their views on different historical and social issues. develop responsible citizens. It will help to increase pupils social and historical knowledge and understanding and encourage greater respect for their own historic and built environment. develop effective contributors by broadening pupils knowledge and understanding through investigative, creative and critical thinking. Before the visit Help pupils gain a clearer grasp of the time scale by making a time line with them, counting back the centuries and then marking on key events. This could be added to after the visit. Discuss the organisation of life in a castle. Pupils could investigate the roles of these key managers : steward, constable, marshal. Discuss with pupils all the different activities which would have gone on in a castle. Pupils could research different topics (e.g. food, travel, entertainment, weapons) to prepare them for the visit. It is helpful if pupils have some of the architectural terminology of castles as this makes discussing on site easier. Useful words might include: courtyard, chamber, shield, coat of arms, archway, gun loop, turnpike stair, battlement, curtain wall, beam. Pupils could produce a class illustrated dictionary to explain these terms Some children find it hard to imagine that a castle was ever anything other than a ruin. Discuss how buildings change with age does the house they live in look the same now as it did a few years ago? Has their family made any changes to the house? If so, why? Discuss how wind and weather can affect the look of a building as well as the deliberate changes that people choose to make to buildings. huntingtower castle Working on site When exploring the castle, pupils should be encouraged to look critically at what they see, and to make and test theories based on physical evidence. Useful starting points are: Why do you think the castle was built here? What are its natural defences? What materials were used to build the castle? Where did the materials come from? Are there any materials which might have rotted or been stolen since then? What evidence is there for everyday life (e.g eating, heating, toilets and washing)? What evidence is there to tell us about the owners of the castle? How has the castle changed over the years? Pupils can record evidence by taking notes, sketching, taking photographs, recording impressions into a tape recorder. On the Historic Scotland website: education_unit teachers can find additional resources to help with work on site. These include compiling an Evidence Record and a My Impressions Record. Suggestions for follow-up work Following the visit pupils can pool their findings in groups to create a fuller record of the castle and the lives of the people who lived and worked there. This could form the basis for a range of presentation activities, for example: A guide book or promotional leaflet for future visitors A slide show with commentary of their visit Imaginative writing or role play based on the lives of the inhabitants of the castle. 3

4 4 On the trail of the Ruthvens There is much to explore in this wonderful and well-preserved building. Our suggested tour route focuses on everyday life in the castle at the time of the Ruthvens ( ). It takes in eight key locations, marked on the plan on the right: 1. Outside the castle 2. The kitchen 3. The hall 4. The chamber 5. On the roof 6. Between the towers 7. The west hall 8. The corner wing Plan of Huntingtower Castle 1 Background information is given in the pack for each location. It is written in simple language so that it can be read aloud to pupils if desired. Also included are suggested questions for discussion.the focus is on encouraging pupils to interpret the building and deduce what they can from clues they see around them Because the castle is so well preserved, it lends itself easily to role play, particularly for younger groups. Suggestions for role play have been included in a Let s Pretend section for each location, featured in purple. Ideally, split your class into groups of 8-10, to allow maximum participation.

5 5 Did you know... Mary Queen of Scots stayed at this castle. She came here on her honeymoon with her second husband, Lord Darnley. She started a fashion it s a popular place to get married now! Tour notes: On the trail of the Ruthvens Location 1: Outside Huntingtower Castle Stand by the picnic benches at the back (north) of the castle. Setting the scene and background information. This can be read to pupils. Let s go back in time more than 400 years to the year Let s imagine that we have come to visit our friends who live in this castle. Our friends are called the Ruthvens. They are very rich and important. Let s pretend that we have arrived on horseback...so we need to gallop up to the back of the house... get off our horses... and hand them to one of the servants who will take the horses to the stables Five hundred years ago, this castle used to be two separate towers. Can you see the two towers? The land was given to two of the Ruthven brothers, so they each wanted their own tower to live in! Later on a different family made the two towers into one. Can you see where they filled in the gap between the towers? Huntingtower Castle from the back (North) The tower on the left is a bit older. It used to be a gatehouse. The Ruthvens changed where the main door was. Can you see where the old arched entrance used to be? There used to be a high wall going around the grass. Where we are standing there used to be buildings like stables for the horses and maybe a bakehouse for baking bread. Gap between the two towers Part of the castle has fallen down now. Look at the tower on the right. Can you see where an old roof used to join on to the tower? There used to be a whole other section of the castle sticking out here. Most of the windows are very small. Why do you think this was? Triangular roof shape visible above steps on right (west) tower. The castle had to be strong in case it was attacked. Stone walls are stronger than windows. Glass was expensive too. Can you see where people inside the castle There are a few narrow slit might have shot at their enemies? Be careful windows or gun loops; for they might be watching us now! shooting out of. Go into the castle through the narrow arched door in the left (east)) tower. Marks on wall above steps show site of west wing

6 6 Did you know... Some kitchen fireplaces were so big that there was space for a small person, often a boy, to stand in the fireplace and turn the meat on the metal pole. He was called the turnbrochie Location 2: The Kitchen Background information for teachers. This can be read to pupils. This room has changed a lot. Once it used to be a kind of tunnel leading into the courtyard at the back. It might have been the castle kitchen once. Where do you think they cooked their food? (over the fire in the fireplace). What kind of food could they cook on a fire like this? There isn t a sink in this kitchen. Where would the cooks get their water from? Where would the dirty water go? There are lots of clues in this room to show that it once looked very different. What can you see? Soups and stews in big pots hanging over the fire. Meat roasted on a big metal pole which was turned over the fire. From a well outside though we don t know where the well here was. Either tipped down a slop chute or tipped away outside. A door at high level, steps going nowhere behind door, shapes of blocked up doors. Fireplace in the kitchen Huntingtower from the south with curtain wall: artist s impression. Let s pretend...we are cooking a meal in the kitchen for the Ruthven family upstairs. You could be: The cook, bossing everyone around Servants choppping, cooking over the fire, carrying water, waiting to serve food upstairs. Go out of the door, turn right then right again up the turnpike stair one floor to the hall with the painted ceiling.

7 7 Did you know... This ceiling was covered over with wooden panels and forgotten about. Then in 1913 it was discovered again when people were repairing the castle. It is one of the oldest Scottish painted ceilings. Location 3: The Hall Background information for teachers. This can be read to pupils. This is the hall, the main room for the castle. This is where the Ruthven family would eat, entertain visitors and meet people for business. The painted ceiling is very old nearly 500 years! In those times it was fashionable to paint your ceiling, a bit like our decorated wall paper today. There are lots of patterns on the ceiling. All of these can be found on the Can you find these things: beams. A dragon A strange face with leaves in its mouth The walls used to be painted all over too. The flower is on the south wall, Can you find these things on the walls? by the window. All the others are A flower around the window alcove to the A rabbit west (facing the other tower). An angel A hunting dog. It is very unusual to find a ceiling this old Rotted, burnt by fire, removed or in a castle. What do you think has painted over as fashions changed. happened to most of the ceilings? Look at the fireplace. Can you see that it has been changed? It used to be even bigger. If there was a banquet, the Ruthven family would sit closest to the fire. They would sit on proper chairs and everyone else would sit on wooden benches. The ceiling in the hall Painted rabbit on the wall On the floor there would be rushes or straw no rugs or carpets! People would eat from wooden plates with their fingers. Can you see a cupboard space in the wall at the front of the castle? What do you think the Ruthvens would keep in here? Put your hand in it. What do you notice? Valuables kept here; maybe special silver plates or money. There is a wide stone slit just beneath the cupboard. What do you think this was for? In the corner there is a toilet. There are lots of toilets in the castle count them as you go round! Let s pretend...that there is a banquet taking place. You could be: The cupboard has a false bottom for added security. For putting in a shelf to hide the section at the bottom. Servants bringing food Painted Beam The Ruthvens and their guests An entertainer singers, pipers, jugglers Dogs! Go back out the door you came in by. Go up the turnpike stairs to the next floor.

8 8 Location 4: The Chamber Did you know... Four poster beds had a wooden roof over the bed to stop bugs and beetles dropping out of the ceiling on to you when you were asleep! Background Information for Teachers. This can be read to pupils. This room might have been a bedroom. It had a ceiling too, but this has fallen down now. Can you see where the ceiling used to be? (large holes for beam joists can be seen about 2 metres up the wall). Bedrooms 500 years ago weren t just places for sleeping in. It was often more like a private living room for the lord and his family. Only the Ruthven family would have slept in beds. The servants might have slept on the floor of the hall, or up in the attic, where you can see if you look up. To the left of the fireplace you can see a little cupboard space in the wall. This was where people kept salt! They used salt for making meat and fish last longer. It was very expensive in those days. Fireplace, salt cupboard and window seat Later on, this room was covered with wooden panels to make it warmer. Can you see where the wooden panels were attached to the wall? In the window there are some cosy window seats. Ladies would sit here to do their sewing. Why do you think it was a good place for this? Small holes for wooden pegs can be seen dotted over the wall about 2 metres up. Good light from the windows. Let s pretend...we are visiting Lord and Lady Ruthven in their living room. You could be: Lord Ruthven lying in bed Lady Ruthven and her daughters sewing in the window. servants are bringing some food and drink and are checking the fire and the salt cupboard. A visitor bringing news for the Ruthvens. Go back out of the same door and continue up the stairs till you come out on to the roof of the tower. Turn left and walk round till you are standing on the wall at the front of the tower.

9 9 Location 5: On the Roof Background Information for Teachers. This can be read to pupils. Now we are standing on the roof of one tower. You can see across to the next tower. There is a great story about something that happened here a long time ago. It might be true! The Maiden s Leap One of the Ruthven daughters, whose name was Dorothy, had a boyfriend. Her parents didn t think he was good enough for her, and didn t want her to marry him. He was allowed to stay at the castle, but in a different tower to Dorothy. One evening her boyfriend was staying and Dorothy secretly slipped into his room to see him. All at once she heard the sound of her Mother hobbling up the stairs... Dorothy knew she would be in big trouble, but there was nowhere to hide. So, in a panic, she nipped up the stairs on to the tower roof where we are now. What would you do if you were her? She took a mighty leap and jumped all the way across from one tower to the other, and landed safely! She crept back into her own bed where her Mother eventually found her. The next night, Dorothy ran away with her boyfriend to get married. But someone must have seen her jump, because this place is still called the Maiden s Leap. What do you think? Do you think the story could be true? Tiles and crow steps What do you think this roof area was used for? There used to be gardens and grounds all around the castle. What do you think the gardens were for? Look at the tiles on the roof. What are they made of? The tiles at the bottom are very big and the ones at the top are smaller. What would happen if the big tiles broke? Can you see the little steps on the roof of the tower? What do you think they were for? A look out position, to check for visitors or attackers. Might have been used to attack people from above. For growing fruit, herbs, vegetables. Also for relaxing archery, hawking. They are slabs of stone. The roof would start to leak. Big broken tiles would be taken out and would be used to replace smaller ones which had cracked or broken, furher up the roof. Partly for decoration, partly to attract pigeons to the tower, To be caught and eaten. Let s pretend... we are look outs on the roof of the castle. What can we see? Is anyone coming? Do they look friendly? How does it feel up here? Walk around the tower. Take care in wet weather. Go back down the stairs and back into the hall with the painted ceiling on the first floor. Go through the hall, come out of the other door to stand on the little bridge between the two towers.

10 10 Location 6: Between the Towers Background information for Teachers. This can be read to pupils. Here we are between the two towers. This area used to be outside. You can imagine Dorothy jumping from one tower to the other above us! Later on the castle was owned by the Murrays, the Dukes of Atholl. They decided to join up the two towers and filled in this gap. They built a big staircase in this gap and made it into rooms. The staircase and all the ceilings and floors have fallen down since then. This bridge is modern. Fireplace in area between towers What clues can you see on the walls to tell us that this was once outside? What clues can you see to tell us that this area used to be rooms inside? Why do you think the Murrays wanted to join the two towers? Gun loops for firing out of (on wall of east tower). Slots round outside of windows which would have had bars around them. (High up on wall of west tower) You can see fireplaces against the walls and the shapes of doorways. Needed more space? Go across the bridge into the hall in the west tower. Gun loops in area between towers

11 11 Location 7: Hall in West Tower Did you know... In 1582 Lord Ruthven and some of his friends kept King James VI prisoner here for ten months when he was only 15. They wanted to force him to change some of his ideas about religion. Poor King James cried when he couldn t get away. In the end, though, he did escape and eventually Lord Ruthven was beheaded. Background Information for Teachers. This can be read to pupils. This is another hall, maybe used by the other brother to begin with. It wasn t always this high. All the ceilings and floors have fallen down here. You can see that part of the wall is decorated. Do you think the ceiling would have been painted too? ( probably). In one of the corners you can find a toilet (in corner, partly filled in). Can you see where there used to be a wooden door to keep it private? Have a look down the toilet. Where did the toilet empty? The Murray family added the big windows at the front of the castle. Why do you think they added them? Down a chute to end up outside. More light. Less danger around so safer to have big windows. Go through into the little room in the corner. Corner of hall, showing area with toilet and painted wall South wall of hall, showing big windows

12 12 Location 8: Corner Wing Did you know... There aren t any pigeons at Huntingtower any more, but there are lots of bats! If you see any butterfly wings on the castle steps, this is a sign that bats are around. They have eaten the rest of the butterfly. They are called Pipistrelle bats. Background Information for Teachers. This can be read to pupils. This is another room which wasn t always this high. All the ceilings and floors above it have gone now. Look right up to the top. Can you see some little stone boxes? What do you think they were used for? Why did they want to keep pigeons? If you look up you can see the remains of fireplaces. How many can you see? (three). Pigeon holes for keeping pigeons. Good source of fresh meat and eggs. Three one on each floor. View up to pigeon holes Why did they have so many fireplaces? How else do you think they kept warm inside the castle? Can you find a painted shape on the wall? What do you think this is? Central heating to keep warm. Maybe wall hangings on the walls; plaster on walls would keep it warmer too. Lots of warm clothes! Shield with coat of arms. Part of it was the Ruthven coat of arms, part of it was the coat of arms of the family that one of them married. Go back into the hall in this tower and leave by the door and down the external flight of steps. Our suggested tour is now at an end.you can also go up the other tower, but there s not as much space, so ideally take pupils up in small groups. Let s pretend we are going to leave the castle by the door in this hall. Let s pretend we are saying goodbye and thank you to the Ruthvens as we go out of the door and down the steps to find our horses again. Other things to do or see. If time permits, it is well worth giving the pupils the chance to look round the castle from the outside. Can they spot: Where the toilet chutes come out The towers of the Maiden s Leap can they jump the distance on the grass? The blocked up door to the curtain wall Gun loops Other places where the building has changed.

13 13 FAQ Q What is the minimum number of adults required for supervision? A 1 adult to 8 pupils Q Is it possible to have a guided tour? A This is likely to be possible. Please discuss when booking. Q Is there disabled access? A Wheelchair users can gain access to the ground floor kitchen and to the space between the two towers, but otherwise access is limited. Q Are there lunch facilities? A Yes. Pupils can picnic outside or use the Education Room in wet weather. Q Where are the toilets? A Two toilets are available on site. One is accessible for wheelchairs. Q Do you carry out risk assessments on behalf of schools? A Risk assessment of the site is the responsibility of the teacher in charge of the group. Hazard information sheets available on the Historic Scotland website provide information that can help teachers prepare their risk assessments. Q Is there a shop? A There is a shop that sells postcards, guidebooks and souvenirs. Visiting Huntingtower Castle Pre visits: We strongly recommend that teachers make a free visit to the castle to familiarise themselves with the site and to make a risk assessment before bringing school parties. Booking a visit: Phone to book a visit, discuss your needs and confirm opening times with the Steward. Tours: Currently it is possible to take part in a Castle Servants Tour. Pupils dress up in replica servants costume and tour the castle through in role. Please ask about this when booking. Cost: Admission is free to a range of educational groups including school parties. More information about who qualifies for free visits can be found on the Historic Scotland Education Unit website (see below). Location: Two miles west of Perth off the A85 Crieff road. Parking: Coaches are advised to drop pupils off at the entrance and then park in the small carpark in front of the castle. Health and safety: Please note the following: Pupils should be supervised at all times, particularly on the turnpike stairs and on the battlements on the roof of the castle. Pupils should not climb on the walls. As part of our committment to Green Tourism, we ask that all litter be disposed of back at school.historic Scotland Education Unit: Historic Scotland Education Unit: For further information about school visits, activities and resources for teachers linked to Huntingtower Castle, visit: Additional resources For teachers: Books Denys Pringle Huntingtower Historic Scotland 1996 The official guidebook; essential for further details on the architecture and history of the site. Chris Tabraham Scottish Castles and Fortifications Historic Scotland 2000 Historic Scotland Education Investigating Medieval Castles in Scotland 2005 Historic Scotland. An excellent booklet designed for teachers with lots of background on castle life and suggestions for class activities. Websites perth/huntingtower/ This site has some lovely photographs and a good historical overview For pupils: Deary, Horrible Histories: Bloody Scotland, 1998 Scholastic English Heritage: What were Castles For? Usborne Starting Points in History ISBN: Websites enter.html Explore a virtual castle. castle1.htm A good source of pictures of castle life which can be downloaded. fm.html Activities based on Nottingham Castle as/burghlife/ Explore 16th century burgh life in Scotland Acknowledgements Photographic credits: All photographs Crown copyright Historic Scotland Text: Elspeth Mackay Series editor: Sue Mitchell Design: N&Einteractive Layout and print production: The House With special thanks for individual contributions to Chris Tabraham and Visitor Services staff at Huntingtower Castle.