Earlstoun Castle

About Earlstoun Castle

Earlstoun Castle dates back over 400 years and was once the stronghold of the Gordons, a well-known family of Covenanters, located near St John's Town of Dalry.

On 19th February 1680, Alexander Gordon, the ‘Bull’ of Earlstoun was found guilty of treason. A character with a colourful story, he was a Covenanter whose father died on his way to the Battle of Bothwell Bridge. It is said that Alexander escaped capture after the battle due to the ingenuity of one of his tenants who dressed him in women’s clothes and had him rock a cradle. He fled to Holland and the 1680 verdict was given in absentia. He evaded capture for three years, before being caught at sea and ordered to be beheaded. His life was spared however by the Duke of Gordon. There’s a story that Alexander was to be examined by torture, but on entering the chamber he roared like a bull through fear or distraction, overthrew his guard and scared the council, thus saving him from this fate.