The term Erth
(Ardhe in Gaelic) signifies a hill and here there are two hills, with a stretch of level
plain from their bases to the River Forth. These hills, occupied by Airth Castle and
Elphinstone Tower, are named Ermore and Erthberg respectively. In 1248 Adam de Erth held
considerable lands in Stirlingshire, and Fergus de Erth, nobleman, occupied the Castle in
1309.
The existing ancient portions
of the old Place of Airth are very extensive. The East Wing is almost certainly the oldest
part. It consists of a square tower with two unequal sized turrets at its front corners.
The West Wing, which is alleged to be as old as the time of Wallace, is a simple square
tower with embattlements and is named Wallace Tower in conjunction with that hero having
sacked it to relieve his uncle, the Priest of Dunipace, than a prisoner in it.
A large plain elevation with
dormer windows fills the space between these towers, the windows having been heightened
and widened in 1803. The building on this side is situated on the brink of a steep knoll
that now forms a terraced garden surrounded by fine old timber. The tower is believed to
date between 1550 and 1600.
Around 1470, Edward Bruce,
second son of Sir Robert Bruce of Clackmannan, married Agnes, daughter of William of Airth
and with her came lands of the Barony of Airth, which became his chief title.
His son Robert succeeded
Edward and on the 11th June 1488, James II burned the Castle because Robert had joined the
rebel Lords. On 3rd July 1489, after the succession of James IV he received
£100 compensation for "Byggen of his place that was burnt".
Robert was succeeded around
1519 by his son Robert, followed by:- in 1547 Sir Alexander Bruce and in 1601 John Bruce,
Sir John Bruce was married to Margaret third daughter of Alexander Lord Elphinstone and
Jean Livingston, and their tomb, in the former chapel of Old Airth Church, has the saltier
arms of Bruce and the initials S.J.B. and beneath that, both their initials together with
an inscription. It is believed that he was succeeded by Alexander whose tombstone of black
marble is said to join the aforementioned and to bear on it "Ex-Robertij Brussii
Scotorum Regid filio nam secundo progenito Baroni Airthense" – the date of his
death being 1642 at the age of 56. He seemed to have been succeeded by Richard Elphinstone
who married Jane Bruce. On the 27th September 1683 his son Charles succeeded to
the Lands ad Barony of Airth.
Judge Graham acquired the
estate in 1717 and it remained in his family until 1920. It was converted into its present
use (hotel) in 1971, having been acquired from the Forrester family. |
