Claypotts Tower

#19 & #114 Claypotts Tower
Tayside, Scotland
1569
This is NOT an official Lego site

Southeast View

While its outbuildings have vanished, the defenses of the tower itself remain formidable. There is no approach to the castle that isn't in the line of fire from a ground floor gunport -- which were located among others next to the entrance and even in the back of the main kitchen fireplace. There is a slot above the entrance for shooting or perhaps foul liquids. The cylindrical towers at opposing corners of the rectangular core are topped with cap-houses. All the pictures were taken by me (or my wife in the case of the SW view).

Southwest View with me

Photos of the Lego Model Built January 2007 I'm fascinated with the liberties I took with my 1988 model - allowing that Lego Group had minimal black roof slopes available then, so the roofs were red, and that my only window options almost 20 years ago were the very limited Lego windows (red, white and yellow) - the addition and subtraction of windows to many areas on the 1988 model would never do in 2007! Oh, well - it's nice to be better at whatever we do!

View of the front of Claypotts - the West Northwest elevation	The view of the new model from the Northeast proclaims the flaws of the 1988 model: the north side is windowless!	The Southeast view highlights the back of the tower.	The Southwest Tower has quite a number of small windows in addition to the gunports.

This sort of aerial view gives more roof and balcony details.	This lower angle displays the corbelling that supports the famous caphouses.	Here is a closeup of the balcony at the SE corner of the central block with its roundel and drain spouts. Same on the NW corner.	Finally, a closeup of the door with rifle slit above and nearby gunport to impede intruders!

Claypotts at Family Discovery Day at Maroa-Forsyth Grade School, March 24, 2007 Shortly after the holidays I was asked if I might bring a Lego castle to Maroa-Forsyth's Family Discovery Day, a Hands-on Experience which featured stained glass, marker butterflies, make-your-own sculpture dough, basket weaving, origami, etc. With Claypotts just built - and easy to transport - I decided to reproduce my 1988 model, and make a staged presentation of the new Claypotts. With 130 kids and their parents, both Judy and I were kept very busy for the two hours of the Experience.

Here I am with the 4 versions of Claypotts - more or less ready for for onslaught of grade schoolers.	For the first and probably last time, two models of the same castle sit side by side. It took just over 3 hours to recreate Claypotts 1988!	I built a model of just the ground floor of my new model. It demonstated not only the thickness of the walls, but gave life to the finished model as well.	This picture shows better Claypotts ground floor, with its entrance hall, pair of spiral staircases and four rooms. See details below:

Here is the only entrance/exit of the castle. The beginnings of rifle slit above the door are seen.	This picture shows the entrance hall and main staircase, with doors to the kitchen and armory visible.	Here is the first of two views of the all-important kitchen in the SW tower. The huge cooking fireplace and sluice basin are prominent...	...but the cook has her table and utensils which are practically as important. Note the gunports and small windows for light...

Next to the kitchen is the storeroom, with both preserved food in barrels and fresh fruits and vegetables.	The next room I've designated the armory, though in addition to weapons for protection, several wine casks entice the residents.	The second spiral staircase leads from the armory to the floors above. (It's a little narrower in reality, but Lego offers only one size...)	Finally, in the northeast tower is the treasure room - and there is the Laird enjoying his wealth!

Photos of the Lego Model Built October 1988

Northeast View	Southeast View	West Northwest View	Closeup View

Claypotts Castle Plans

Ground Floor Plan	Third Floor Plan

Build Your Own

East View	Top Down