Lauriston Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Card

Standing on a cliff near the village of St. Cyrus, just a mile inland from the North Sea Coast of Scotland, Lauriston Castle is one of the oldest privately-owned and inhabited castles in the region. It was the stronghold of the last of the Pictish Kings (889 AD). Lauriston's first Charter is dated 1243 and it soon developed into a classic Courtyard Castle which was savagely fought-over during Scotland's Wars of Independence and strengthened by King Edward III in 1336, as part of a chain of Plantagenet strongholds. For nearly 450 years, Lauriston was held by the Stratons, whose arms of 1292 are among the earliest recorded in Scotland. The eloquent Declaration of Arbroath, from 1320, sealed by the nation's Earls and Barons has, as its final signatory, the name of Alexander Straton. This image of the Castle, created from my original painting, features a kilted Scottish Highlander and his Scottish Terrier dog. Each design is available on ALL of the Zazzle products. Simply scroll down and click Transfer This Design on the product page and make your choice! Personalize if you wish, using the Text Tool! Thank you!