Ancient carvings mystery solved

The walled garden has intricate carvings around it

The origins of intricate carvings which line the walled garden of a Scottish castle have finally been discovered, solving centuries of mystery.

The 400-year-old Edzell Castle near Brechin attracts thousands of visitors.

It was not known where the 14 carvings, depicting the Liberal arts on the south wall and Cardinal Virtues on the west wall, had come from.

But their origins have now been revealed as those of Flemish Renaissance master - Maarten de Vos.

'Eureka moment'

English historian, Anthony Wells-Cole, discovered the link to de Vos while he was carrying out work in Amsterdam.

De Vos apparently provided the inspiration to Edzell sculptor Johannes Salder.

Thousands visit the castle each year

Bill Balfour, monument manager at Edzell Castle, said: "It has been a privilege to be in the middle of such an important discovery.

"People don't realise. They ask questions about the renaissance in Europe ever coming to Scotland and you just have to walk through the gates at Edzell and you're right in the middle of it.

"Not a single historian will argue with that."

Mr Wells-Cole described the moment he found the drawings in Amsterdam as "a real Eureka moment".

"It is a fascinating and probably unique survival of a renaissance garden with sculptured panels of different subjects," he said.