Plate VIII.
BRECHIN CASTLE.
THE town, or city, of Brechin, as the
name denotes, is built on a hill; Brunichaun, in the Gaelic
lan-
guage, meaning the top of a declivity. Perhaps, however, it is
derived from Breaichuain, a view of the
firth, as from the east you have a fine view of the bay of
Montrose, which bounds the county of Angus on
that side, at the distance of about eight miles. It is of very
considerable antiquity, and was formerly a
bishop's see, possessing a cathedral, and also a
convent.
The South Esk river runs past the
suburbs on the south, on the bank of which stands the present
house,
or castle. This river, like most of those in mountainous countries,
frequently rises very suddenly to a con-
siderable height; but the site of the castle is much above its most
violent swellings.
Nothing can be more picturesque than
the view of this castle, as given in this plate; the drawing
of
which was taken in September 1800. The Usk running along the
foreground, with its opposite rocky
bank, partially naked, and partially covered with trees and
brush-wood, and the whole crowned with the
castellated building, forms a scene at once beautiful and
grand.
Of the ancient castle of Brechin no
vestige remains. In 1303 it underwent a long siege, and was
gal-
lantly defended, though attacked by a powerful army under Edward
the First: and notwithstanding all
the efforts of that potent prince, the brave governor, Sir Thomas
Maule, held out for twenty days; at the
end of which time he was slain by a stone, thrown from an engine,
on the 20th of August, when the place
instantly surrendered.
Patrick Maule, a descendant of the
governor, was in 1646 created Lord Maule of Brechin, and Earl
of
Panmure. This estate, which is very considerable, always goes to
the youngest son, and never with the
title; and is now the property of the Honourable William Maule, who
constantly resides at the castle, and
whose appropriate and liberal taste for improvement has added much
to the peculiar and natural beauties
of the spot.