Floors Castle is home to the 10th Duke of Roxburghe who inherited the estate at the age of 19.  For that last 20 years he has worked on ensuring that estate is self sustaining and financially viable for future generations.

The history of the castle:

The site for the building of Floors Castle is a natural terrace overlooking the River Tweed and facing the Cheviot Hills, the heartland of the Roxburghe Family Estate.

It lies on the opposite river bank to Roxburghe Castle, once the strongest fortress along the former border with England.

In 1721, William Adam was commissioned by the 1st Duke to make additions to the eastern end of an existing tower-house to create a plain, but symmetrical, Georgian country house.

The 6th Duke invited on the Scotland’s leading architect, William Playfair, to remodel the castle between 1837 and 1847. He drew his inspiration for Floors from the highly ornamented picturesque style of Heriot’s Hospital in Edinburgh.

The result is a romantic fairytale castle with its roof scape of turrets, pinnacles and cupolas.

Floors Castle

Turrets

Balancing Act

14 Comments CherryPie on Aug 2nd 2011

14 Responses to “Floors Castle”

  1. MTG says:

    Hermes may be overwhelmed by the phallic competition created by the Architect, or it is a particularly cold day. His namesake at Stadspark entrance is far less modest, CP.

  2. That statue is Mercury, right?
    I recognise his winged shoes and winged hat. ;)

  3. Love castles and how you have captured this one!

  4. Claire says:

    This is such a fairy tale castle thanks for posting it.

  5. Marcie says:

    The architecture…is so amazing! Like an imaginary dream!!!

  6. J_on_tour says:

    Amazing building. I remember when visiting the building for the first time, it was an awesome experience.

    • CherryPie says:

      It is rather magical isn’t it? I would have loved to get some photos of it from a distance, but the weather had other ideas and I beat a hasty retreat.

      Something to do next time I am there ;-)

  7. We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. What a pity the weather didn’t behave its self!

    Thank you for your lovely comments.

    Charlotte Newton
    Floors Castle