Old Slains Castle

The castle's origins date back to the 13th century when it was owned by the Earls of Buchan (Clan Cumming). However, it was confiscated in the 14th century. King Robert I of Scotland then granted Old Slains Castle to Sir Gilbert Hay of Errol in recognition of his support during the Scottish Wars of Independence. In 1453, King James II elevated the clan chief, Sir William Hay, to Earl of Erroll, making the castle the new ancestral seat of the Earls of Erroll. In 1585, Francis Hay, the 9th Earl of Erroll, joined the Roman Catholic Church and allied himself with other Catholic nobles, including the Earl of Huntly, in a rebellion in 1589. He was also a signatory of the “Spanish Blanks,” documents that envisioned Spanish support in the conflict with England.