Object: Photo Archive
Date: 19th century
Description : Rothesay Castle
This early photograph of Rothesay Castle was taken sometime before 1900. Between 1870 and 1900 the 3rd Marquess of Bute employed the renowned architect William Burgess to implement major renovations to the castle, removing numerous houses and a smithy within the castle grounds, repairing the existing walls and the reconstruction of the first floor of the gatehouse. The open stairway is known as the “Bloody Stairs” as according to legend the Lady Isabel threw herself down them to escape a marauding Viking invader. The castle is said to be haunted by her ghost known as the “Green Lady”. (P03-2765, B13.84)