Clan Rising
Craigcrook Castle today

Scotland · Restored

Craigcrook Castle

Craigcrook Castle is a historic Z-plan stone tower house on the western outskirts of Edinburgh, close to Corstorphine Hill. Largely 17th-century in origin, it acquired 19th-century additions and interior decoration and long served as a literary salon in the 1800s; it is a listed historic building now being adapted for new use.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1895

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1895

What Craigcrook Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact Z-plan tower house of grey-green sandstone with a rounded south‑west tower capped by a conical slate roof and weather vane, and a squarer north‑east tower; three storeys with numerous small multi‑pane sash windows. Crow‑stepped gables and pedimented dormer windows puncture the slate roofline, while tall stone chimneys rise above. An entrance tower with a carved pediment frames the main doorway. The castle sits low in a hollow at the foot of Corstorphine Hill, with a surrounding stone garden wall.

Its story

The story of Craigcrook Castle.

The lands of Craigcrook were held by the Graham family in the 14th century and passed through several owners before 1542, when William Adamson, a merchant and burgess of Edinburgh whose estates took in Craigleith, Groathill and Clermiston, took possession. The Adamsons built, or rebuilt, the Z-plan tower house and kept it until 1659; a garden gateway with a pediment dated 1626 survives from their time within the 17th-century wall.

A run of Edinburgh professional men followed: the merchant John Mein from 1659, then ten years later Sir John Hall of Dunglass, Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1689, who sold in 1682 to the advocate Walter Pringle, who sold in turn, in 1689, to John Strachan, Writer to the Signet. Additions piled onto the old tower: a round south-west tower, a square north-east tower, crow-stepped gables and an entrance tower built by Playfair.

In the 19th century Craigcrook became the home of Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey, and the setting for his literary gatherings, Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn, was a frequent guest across 34 years. Interior work of that century includes murals by David Roberts. The castle, a category B listed building, is said to be haunted by Lord Jeffrey himself.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1895.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Craigcrook Castle, including 5 interiors: library with david roberts murals, jeffrey's drawing room wing (interior), vaulted ground floor (cellar) and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Front approach and silhouetteSouth‑west round tower (exterior)Entrance tower and main doorwayCrow‑stepped gable facadeWalled garden and roll‑moulded arched gateway (pediment dated 1626)Library with David Roberts muralsJeffrey's drawing room wing (interior)Vaulted ground floor (cellar)Square north‑east tower stairwellBilliard room, east addition (exterior and interior)

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Craigcrook Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1895, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Whose castle

Clans who held Craigcrook Castle.

The families that held Craigcrook Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Graham

    Held the lands of Craigcrook in the 14th century.

  • Adamson

    Held by the Adamson family, merchants and burgesses of Edinburgh, from 1542 to 1659; they built or rebuilt the castle.

  • Hall

    Home of Sir John Hall of Dunglass, Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1689, from 1669 to 1682.

  • Jeffrey

    Home of Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey (1773–1850), in the 19th century.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Craigcrook Castle.

Murrayfield Stadium, ScotlandStadiumMurrayfield Stadium2 km awayTynecastle Park, ScotlandStadiumTynecastle Park3 km awayGreyfriars Kirkyard, ScotlandCemeteryGreyfriars Kirkyard5 km away

Questions about Craigcrook Castle

What is the history of Craigcrook Castle?

Craigcrook Castle has 14th-century Graham connections and was constructed or reconstructed by the Adamson family after William Adamson took possession in 1542. The Adamsons held it until 1659, after which it passed through several Edinburgh owners. In the 19th century it became the home of Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey, and a setting for literary gatherings.

What is inside Craigcrook Castle?

Inside Craigcrook Castle are a library with murals by David Roberts, Jeffrey's drawing room wing, a vaulted ground floor, a billiard room and the stairwell of the square north-east tower. The east addition also has documented interior space. The ground floor was formerly vaulted, as was the upper floor of the round tower.

Where is Craigcrook Castle?

Craigcrook Castle is on the western outskirts of Edinburgh, close to Corstorphine Hill. It stands in a hollow at the foot of the hill, about 3 miles west of Edinburgh city centre. The castle is within the City of Edinburgh administrative area.

What did Craigcrook Castle look like in its prime?

Craigcrook Castle is a compact Z-plan tower house of grey-green sandstone with three storeys. Its silhouette includes a rounded south-west tower with a conical slate roof, a square north-east tower, crow-stepped gables, pedimented dormers and tall stone chimneys. A carved-pediment entrance tower frames the main doorway, and a stone wall surrounds the garden.

Is Craigcrook Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Craigcrook Castle is still standing and has been restored. It is primarily a 17th-century building with numerous later additions, including 19th-century alterations and an extension added in 1968. The interior was restored in 1989, and the building is now being adapted for new use.

Which family or clan held Craigcrook Castle?

Craigcrook Castle was held by the Graham family in the 14th century and by the Adamson family from 1542 to 1659. Sir John Hall of Dunglass held it from 1669 to 1682. In the 19th century it was the home of Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey.

When was Craigcrook Castle built?

Craigcrook Castle was built chiefly in the early 17th century, although its core may incorporate an earlier fortalice. The Adamson family constructed or reconstructed the Z-plan tower house after William Adamson took possession in 1542. Later additions altered the building, including work in the 19th century.

More castles of Scotland

Auchen Castle, ScotlandAuchen CastleCoeffin, ScotlandCoeffinAuchen Castle Hotel, ScotlandAuchen Castle Hotel

Explore the city

Craigcrook Castle stands in historic Edinburgh, explore the whole city through the ages

Edinburgh, ScotlandScotlandEdinburghExplore it in 1560 · 1790 · 1880Glasgow, ScotlandScotlandGlasgowExplore it in 1650 · 1775 · 1888Inverness, ScotlandScotlandInvernessExplore it in 1560 · 1880
Explore historic Edinburgh through the ages · All castles of Scotland · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.