Herbertshire Castle

Herbertshire Castle was a castle built in the Barony of Herbertshire in the early 15th century, located near Dunipace, Falkirk, central Scotland. It is said once to have been a royal hunting station. Its situation on elevated ground on the north bank of the River Carron was "very beautiful". It was in an L-plan, dominated by a four-storey, rectangular, battlemented tower. In 1889 it was described as a large and lofty structure, measuring 63'6" in length, including the wing, by 43'8" in breadth. The small limb forming the L was 26'2" wide and appears to have projected about 12'. It formed a landmark for miles around. It was badly damaged in a fatal fire in 1914 which claimed three lives, and lay in ruins until its demolition in the 1950s. The grounds remain, as Herbertshire Castle Park, also known as Denny Gala Park. Nothing remains of the castle but an area of low scarps and shallow depressions. Herbertshire is believed to have taken its name from one Herbert de Camera, who donated tracts of land in Dunipace to Cambuskenneth Abbey about the year 1200. During the time that Herbert made the donations to the Abbey, the lands fell within the jurisdiction of the barony of Dunipace. After the donations, Herbertshire became the principal barony that remained. It was located within the county of Stirling. This was the principal barony of Dunipace and Denny. At the time of the Wars of Scottish Independence it was known as the Barony of Dunipace and it was not until some time after these that the name Herbertshire emerged. In that early period the lairds of the barony were the de Morehams and, as his sons had both died in the wars, Sir Thomas de Moreham, the last laird, was succeeded by his granddaughter. She married John Gifford and they had four children – all girls. The youngest, Elizabeth, married John Douglas (1303–1350), son of James, Lord Douglas, and the estate went to them during the reign of David II of Scotland (1324–1371). In their charter the name Herbertshire…