The story of Tolquhon Castle begins in the early years of the 15th century. When the owner, Sir Henry Preston, died without male heirs, the land was divided between the husbands of his two daughters. His daughter Marjorie was married to Sir John Forbes and in 1420 the couple took ownership of Tolquhon, so beginning nearly 300 years of Forbes devotion to the castle. The castle they lived in was very different from the gracious buildings we can see today. The heart of their home was the towerhouse, known as Preston’s Tower, which was built either for Sir John or previously for his father-in-law. It is still partly intact. Several generations later, in 1584, the 7th laird of Tolquhon, William Forbes, decided to upgrade his living quarters and build a brand new castle. He demolished the outbuildings around Preston’s Tower and started again. His new castle was less forbidding than the old towerhouse; even in ruins it is still elegant. Forbes embellished his castle with carvings and decorations and his home was ringed with formal gardens and a pleasure park. Forbes seems to have been a respected and enlightened man. Away from the cut-throat politics of 16th century Scotland, he busied himself with local matters. Laird for nearly 50 years, Forbes took his local responsibilities seriously, funding among other things a local hospital facility. He had a large library and constructed a gallery for viewing portraits in the castle and recreation. Sadly he was only able to enjoy his new home for a few years, hosting a visit from the young James VI, before dying in 1596. He was buried in the local kirk at Tarves, in a tomb he designed. Subsequent lairds did little to modify the castle. The family became indebted following the disastrous Darien expedition, Scotland’s attempt to establish a colony, and were forced out of the castle in 1718. Thereafter the castle was used as farm accommodation and gradually fell into disuse.