Falside

#192 Falside Castle
Near Tranent, Lothians, Scotland
Early and late fifteenth century
This is NOT an official Lego site

There has been a fortification on this strategic hill eight miles east of Edinburgh since at least the 11th century. Nothing is known of the structure which was attacked by Sir William Douglas in 1288 or which was seized by Robert the Bruce near the end of his 1306 rebellion. The land was sold to the Fawsydes in 1371, and the original rectangular tower was built in the early fifteenth century. It must be noted that there are apparently at least 11 known spellings of the family name, including Fawside, Fa'side, Fauxside, etc. Falside is the spelling used by Martin Coventry in "The Castles of Scotland", so I'll stick with that. The Fawsides owned the property for 260 years, and it was they who built the original tower, and added the "L-plan" addition around the end of the 15th century. Both the original tower and the addition are around 60 feet tall, though the tower is 3-stories, and the "new bit" five!

The Fawsde family ownership of the castle was mostly peaceful, except for two occasions: In 1540 a border dispute broke out between the Fawsides and their next-door neighbors, just down the hill, the Prestons. The initial problem was a broken stone wall and sheep intermingling. But soon the down-stream sheep were suddenly dying - from poisoned water?? The feud led to the killing of the aged Fawside chieftain. The feud was finally settled monetarily, to the satisfaction of all, including, apparently, the chieftain's widow. The second occasion was the nearby Battle of Pinkie, the culmination of the War of the Rogh Wooing, when the English invasion force was victorious over a large Scottish army as Edward Somerset, Duke of Somerset, attempted to abduct Mary, Queen of Scots, and deliver her to be the bride of the young English king, Edward VI. The result was the burning of Falside Castle. But it was again hospitable when Mary stayed overnight on June 14, 1567, just 20 years later, before she departed to engage in the Battle of Carberry Hill.

In 1616 John Fawside, about 20, was murdered in the castle by a family servant. While the servant was tried and beheaded, John's father, Robert Fawside, eventually lost heart and sold the castle in 1630 to an Edinburgh merchant named Hamilton, and the family moved to Yorkshire, England. The castle disappeared from the tax records, and eventually became ruinous. The castle may the connected by coal mine shafts with nearby Elphinstone Tower [which see] and other sites. In the1960's the land owner twice attempted to have the ruin demolished, but local outcry eventually saved the castle, with several purchases in the mid-1970s and later 1980s resulting in some, then major restoration of Falside Castle. It now not only is home to the architect owner's office, but is open as an historic and delightfully beautiful bed and breakfast hotel!


Ian	West Elevation, with cross-section of the main block	This is a painting by the current owner, James Brown. I do not know if it depicts the castle in 1590, or his vision for its future (or both).	West Elevation, with cross-section of the main block	This is a painting by the current owner, James Brown. I do not know if it depicts the castle in 1590, or his vision for its future (or both).

Photos of the Lego Model Under construction in November 2024

Construction of the model begins on the morning of November 16...	...with the pair of old and "new" entrances quickly defined.	The older tower and L-plan addition are also delineated.	And on November 18, progress includes most of the ground floor level.


Modeling on November 19 has progressed enough to show all four sides. From the south.	The familiar [see above] west side, with the "new" entrance.	The north face with the original entrance.	And a first time look at the east side of the castle.

Photos of the Lego Model Built November 2024

Here is the SW view. In a typical Scottish L-plan, the view with the entrance in the re-entrant angle.	But at Falside, that's the "new" wing - with the entrance on the west side.	The NW view really shows off the roofs of the old and new parts of the castle.	The north side, with the original entrance.


Here is the castle from the northeast.	The east view is pretty plain, but shows off both the new and old parts of the castle.	The attachments of the bawn wall can be appre- ciated in the SE view.	And finally the south view - with its classic turrets.


Ground Floor Plan	First Floor Plan	Second Floor Plan	Cross-section of ruin	Cross-section of ruin


By the next day the tower...	...has risen to just above the...	...level of the second story.	And I begin to think abour support for the future roofs and turrets.


November 21 sees the addition of another...	...story to the tower.	Its beginning to look...	...like a real Scottish castle!


Another day and another story.	November 22 brings the castle up to the roof line.	The north end is by far the most plain...	...but it will all come together in the next several days!


East Elevation	South Elevation	West Elevation	North Elevation (probably not)


From east	From south	From west

Build Your Own

Lego Ground Floor Plan	Lego Roof Plan