Capt Lightning
Well-known Member
- Location
- Historic Buchan, Scotland
Gight (a difficult name to pronounce if you're not from the north) Castle was the ancestral home of the famous (or notorious) Poet, Lord Byron. Widely regarded as one of the English romantic poets, his background was in Aberdeenshire in N. Scotland.
The castle was home to the Gordons for many Centuries from about 1480 when they acquired the land of Gight. The second Laird, George, built the castle in 1560, having inherited the land from his father who died at the Battle of Flodden. The Gordons were an unlucky family and members died following a series of murders, executions, drownings and loss in battle.
The last Laird of Gight Castle was the 13th, Catherine Gordon. Her husband, nicknamed Mad Jack Byron was a gambler and in 1787 the castle was sold to clear his gambling debts. Their son was Lord Byron, the poet.
The castle was purchased by the 3rd Earl of Aberdeen who gave it to his son Lord Haddo and his wife Charlotte Baird. Unfortunately Lord Haddo was killed at Gight when he fell from his horse. The castle was then abandoned and became ruinous.
The castle was home to the Gordons for many Centuries from about 1480 when they acquired the land of Gight. The second Laird, George, built the castle in 1560, having inherited the land from his father who died at the Battle of Flodden. The Gordons were an unlucky family and members died following a series of murders, executions, drownings and loss in battle.
The last Laird of Gight Castle was the 13th, Catherine Gordon. Her husband, nicknamed Mad Jack Byron was a gambler and in 1787 the castle was sold to clear his gambling debts. Their son was Lord Byron, the poet.
The castle was purchased by the 3rd Earl of Aberdeen who gave it to his son Lord Haddo and his wife Charlotte Baird. Unfortunately Lord Haddo was killed at Gight when he fell from his horse. The castle was then abandoned and became ruinous.