#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!
From east From south From west

 

Ground Floor Plan First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan Cross-section of ruin Cross-section of ruin
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.
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!
...alon On Here
As

 

Photos of the Lego Model
Built November 2024
Here is The WN The w The w The s
The vie The east The nort This a. ...ofte

 

Build Your Own
Lego Ground Floor Plan
Lego Roof Plan
East Elevation
South Elevation
West Elevation
North Elevation
(probably not)


Other Falside Castle pages:
https://www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk/the-best-castles/scenic-castles/falside-castle/
https://canmore.org.uk/site/53666/falside-castle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=DmMEk6XsUxI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fa%27side_Castle
https://www.scottishcastlesassociation.com/news/news-features/faside-castle-sue-brash.htm

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Castles created by Robert Carney
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Robert Carney