#186 Hatton Castle
at the ESE edge of Newtyle Village
Angus & Dundee, Scotland
1575 and later
This is NOT an official Lego site

The lands upon which Hatton Castle now rests were granted to Isabella Douglas, and her fiancé, William Olifant, by Robert the Bruce [King Robert I] in 1317, in reward for Oliphant's support during the Wars of Independence.  Their marriage produced one son, Walter, who married Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of King Robert.  Their descendent, Sir Laurence Oliphant of Aberdalgie, was created Lord Oliphant in 1456.  The lands remained in the Oliphant family, and in 1575 Laurence, the 4th Lord Oliphant, built his classic Z-plan tower on a hill at the southeast edge of Newtyle Village.  The castle was likely initially called Newtyle Castle, but evidently the preceding Oliphant hall and surrounding farm [Scots Ha + farm toun] at the site resulted in a permanent change in the name.

The main block is a rectangle of approximately 24 by 61 feet, with a pair of roughly 20 foot square towers at the northeast and southwest corners.  The latter contains the entrance, and a wide turnpike stair which ascends only the the first floor.  The Hall is about 34' long x 17' wide x 17' tall, virtually forming a pair of cubes end to end.  The acoustics are said to be impressive.  A Private Room and the Lord's bedroom are also on the main floor.  The bedroom features a "priest hole", the function of which was likely best known to the early owners.  The upper floors contain numerous bedrooms and other rooms.

The Oliphants only occupied Hatton for two generations, selling their Newtyle estates to the Halyburtons around 1627.  The property soon passed to the son of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh.  The castle was garrisoned for the Covenanters in 1645 by the 17th Earl of Crawford, but it was quickly captured by James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose, after he switched to the side of King Charles I.  It is probable that Hatton fell into disrepair then ruin due to lack of occupation, and the tower was de-roofed around 1720, following the Jacobite rising of 1715.  The photographs below show the state of the ruin in 1978.  The property was purchased in 1983 by Roderick Oliphant and the initial faithful restoration was carried out by him and his older brother, Richard.  It was lost due to taxes in 1996, and is now privately owned.  The owner, a member of the Scottish Castles Association, has continued the restoration.  My thanks to Roderick "Roddy" Oliphant for his kind assistance with this project.

The ruin seen from the south, courtesy of Canmore.	From the southeast - photo taken in 1978.	The view from the northeast...	...and from the northwest.	The interior of the ruin, also in 1978.

Drawing showing lower door added later	Plan of the Ground Floor	Plan of the First Floor	Plan of the Second Floor	Plan of the Third Floor and Attics	Cross-section of the castle

Photos of the Lego Model Under Construction in October 2023

Construction begins on October 17 with the classic Z-plan outlined on baseplates.	Later on the same day, basic landscaping is complete, and the outline filled in.	On October 18 the ground level walls, dotted with gun- ports, begins to rise.	The view from the southeast high- lights the castle's only entrance/exit.	The WNW angle shows off the two rounded projections, both of which were likely turret stairs.	Finally the back of the castle, viewed from the north.

On October 19 the entire emphasis is on the first floor. The view from the southeast.	The east view.	And the model from the northeast.	The back of the castle from the northwest.	The west end of the model.	And from the south- west, the stair tower.

The next day, the second floor is added.	This level will be mostly bedrooms and similar chambers.	And the model from the northeast.	The back of the castle with a wide spiral staircase.	The west end of the model, with the other stair.	And from the south- west, ready to roof.

Which happens the next morning, October 21.	I've taken pictures just as the first layers...	...Lego slopes are added,...	...so the various levels can be appreciated.	The corner towers will present a challenge.	Happily the main block roof is simpler than most.

Roofing the spiral stair turret will be very interesting.	The narrower spiral stair is expanded from a quarter...	...round to half round above the tower roofline. Next the finished model!

Photos of the Lego Model Built October 17 - 23, 2023
Roofing is completed on October 22...	...with modest landscaping and appropriately dressed...	...castle residents added on October 23.	The northeast view highlights a corner tower.

The back of the castle, interestingly with no postern door.	The Z-plan makes for a very pretty castle.	Finally, the views from the west...	...and southwest.

The tartans are those of the Oliphant clan, with both skirts and kilts created.	The corbiestepped gables make the roofs stand out.	And the wide stair tower came out nicely.

Build Your Own
Lego Plans of the First Floor and Roof with parapets	South Elevation	West Elevation

Other Hatton Castle pages:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatton_Castle,_Angus
https://canmore.org.uk/site/32166/hatton-castle
https://www.clanoliphant.org/clan-oliphant-history-3/clan-castles/hatton-castle/
https://www.scottishcastlesassociation.com/news/news/hatton-castle.htm