Castle of Park
Park, part of an ancient Fief granted to
a Norman knight in 1242, was bought
by the Gordon family in 1605. The
Gordons of Park married into the Duke
of Fife’s family, the Duffs, in the
mid-18th Century. During the 18th and
19th Centuries the castle was
transformed from a baron’s fortress
into an elegant country home.
At its core is a tall 16th Century ‘Z-plan’
tower house (turrets with turnpike stairs
on two corners). Some arrow slit windows
remain in the vaulted ‘basement’ (actually
ground floor) rooms. Marks in the stone inside
the front door show where swords were
sharpened.
18th and 19th century additions were in both
Classical and Gothic style and include large
Georgian sash windows, projecting bows and
a fine square tower with crenellations and
small overhanging turrets at each corner.
The whole castle is now listed category A by
Historic Scotland.
The Gordons of Park were active Jacobite supporters and Sir William Gordon joined
Bonnie Prince Charlie’s 1745 rebellion for the march on England and the
subsequent retreat and ultimate defeat at the Battle of Culloden. The Duke of
Cumberland’s men later encamped at Park and sacked the castle, but they failed to
capture Sir William, who hid in the area before escaping to France.
The castle is said to be haunted by a green lady who appears from an upstairs
window. The story goes that she is a servant who was dismissed from her post
because she was expecting a child and subsequently committed suicide. Yet another
ghost in the castle is a monk who was reputedly murdered by being walled up in the
castle.
