DiCamillo Companion
Scotland

Glamis Castle

Glamis, near Forfar

Angus

Scotland

Historic County: Forfarshire

Circa Date: 15th century, incorporating earlier elements, w/17th & 18th century additions and alterations

Pronunciation: GLAHMZ

Status: Fully Extant

House Open to Public: Yes

Country House: Yes

crown This house has been used for TV and Film Historic Houses Member

The house from "Morris's Views of Seats," circa 1875.

  • Earlier Houses: In 1034 King Malcolm II was mortally wounded in a battle nearby and taken to the royal hunting lodge that stood on the site of the current castle, where he died. In Shakespeare's early 17th century play, "Macbeth," the title character lives at Glamis Castle, although the historical King Macbeth (1005-57) had no connection to the castle.

    House & Family History: The castle is the fictional setting for Shakespeare's "Macbeth." Glamis was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and birthplace of her second daughter, Princess Margaret. Since 1987 an image of Glamis Castle has featured on the reverse side of the Royal Bank of Scotland's £10 notes.

  • Garden & Outbuildings: On the grounds of the castle, very near the parish church of Glamis (where members of the Bowes-Lyon family have been buried for centuries), is a Pictish stone today called Glamis 2. For most of its existence it was called the Glamis Manse Stone, or King Malcolm's Gravestone, which refers to the belief that it marks the burial spot of Malcolm II, king of Scotland, who died in 1034. Malcolm was the grandfather of King Duncan I (1001-40), who was, at least in the famous play, killed by Macbeth (in reality, he was killed in battle by Macbeth's troops). In an interesting twist of history, the gravestone is older than the man whom it memorializes; that's likely because the grave marker is the reuse of an existing Bronze Age standing stone.

  • John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. II, p. 24, 1855

    John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. VI, 1823. Scotland, 1830.

    Country Life: II, 293, 1897. XX, 234, 1906. XXXVI, 196 plan, 1914. LIII, 114, 1923. CI, 860, 910 plan, 1947.

  • House Listed: Category A

    Park Listed: Listed as a Garden & Designed Landscape

  • "Building of Britain" (2002 - TV documentary series). "Castle in the Country" (2005 - BBC TV documentary, series 1).

  • Current Seat / Home of: Simon Patrick Bowes-Lyon, 19th and 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.

    Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

  • House Open to Public: Yes

    Phone: 01307-840-393

    Fax: 01307-840-733

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: https://www.glamis-castle.co.uk/

    Awards: 2003 International Ambassador Award for achievement in attracting international visitors to the area.

    Historic Houses Member: Yes

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