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Historic Scotland
Web siteCROOKSTON CASTLE, GLASGOW
Sited upon the summit of a hogback ridge , and surrounded by the modern housing estate of Pollok, Crookston was thought to date from the thirteenth century, but more modern estimates date it at about 1400. Roughly X-plan, it consist of a massive rectangular central block, once supported at each corner by towers. Only one of these remains intact, and of two there is little evidence.
It stands within a wide and deep ditch, the remnants of the earlier ringwork predecessor. This is entered from the south east adjacent to the keepers cottage. The hill on three sides is steep, and on the north is an almost precipitous drop to the Levern Water.
The main block of the castle measures 60ft by 40ft, and sections of its walls reach 13ft in thickness. There is one entrance to the castle, in the main block at the re-entrant with the north eastern tower. A macholination above provided defence. The door was also defended by two doors and a portcullis, the sockets for drawbars can still be seen. This was cleverly designed, the first door opening outward, and when drawn back and the door opened, the bar would have prevented access to the stair. This straight stairway rises westward within the wall to the first floor. The passage directly facing the door enters a rib vaulted basement. This consists of a large single room, with mural stairs leading to the floor above at various points, and a recess within the wall contains the well. There are several arrow slot windows which provide light and enhance the defensive features of the castle.
A recess within the wall at first floor level also allows access to the well. The first floor contained the great hall, also vaulted, which has a large fireplace and windows with stone seats. The intact north eastern tower is entered from here.
The basement of this tower contains a guard room entered from just within the main door, and this room contains the hatch which opens to reveal a pit prison. The upper floors must be accessed from the hall. There is a single room to each floor, and you climb by modern wrought iron ladders to the centre of the floor of each. This can be a harrowing experience for sufferers of vertigo, as it is possible to look down to your starting point several floors below! There are four storeys above the basement, each illuminated by long slot windows. The upper storey, containing the Lord’s bedroom, has a larger window to the east. The corbelling which supported a parapet and bartizans at the open sides is continuous, though it is likely that this has been added in the renovations which were undertaken to commemorate Queen Victoria’s visit to the city in 1847. The view from the roof is well worth the trauma of the climb.
Little remains of the south eastern tower other than a vaulted basement.
The original ringwork defences were constructed by Sir Robert de Croc ( hence Crookston) of Neilston in the 12th century. The estate was purchased in 1330 by Sir Alan Stewart of the Darnley Stewarts, and his descendants built the castle around 1400. This family gained the Earldom of Lennox in 1425 on the execution for treason of the old Celtic Earl and his heirs. In 1489 the family, with the Lyles of Duchal, went into rebellion against James 4th. His reply was severe. Bringing the great bombard Mons Meg from Edinburgh, he destroyed the western end of the castle forcing it's submission. He continued to Duchal, with or without the cannon, repeated his action, and then to Dumbarton, where Lord Darnley, son of the Earl was in charge.
In 1544 the Regent Arran and Cardinal Beaton laid siege to the castle whilst the Earl of Lennox was holding Glasgow Castle against would be assailants.
A later Lord Darnley was to become husband of Mary Queen of Scots, and it is beneath an ancient yew tree at the castle that they were allegedly betrothed. This tree was cut down in the 19th century, and its wood used to create a carved model of Crookston, which can now be seen in Pollok House. Darnley was murdered at Kirk O’ Field in Edinburgh in 1567.
It passed through various hands, until in 1757 it was sold by the Graham Duke of Montrose to the Maxwells of Pollok.
Sir John Stirling Maxwell was a founder of the National Trust for Scotland, and gifted them Crookston as their first property in 1931. It is still owned by the trust, though administered by Historic Scotland.
http://www.ancient-s.../site.php?a=186
Sited upon the summit of a hogback ridge , and surrounded by the modern housing estate of Pollok, Crookston was thought to date from the thirteenth century, but more modern estimates date it at about 1400. Roughly X-plan, it consist of a massive rectangular central block, once supported at each corner by towers. Only one of these remains intact, and of two there is little evidence.
It stands within a wide and deep ditch, the remnants of the earlier ringwork predecessor. This is entered from the south east adjacent to the keepers cottage. The hill on three sides is steep, and on the north is an almost precipitous drop to the Levern Water.
The main block of the castle measures 60ft by 40ft, and sections of its walls reach 13ft in thickness. There is one entrance to the castle, in the main block at the re-entrant with the north eastern tower. A macholination above provided defence. The door was also defended by two doors and a portcullis, the sockets for drawbars can still be seen. This was cleverly designed, the first door opening outward, and when drawn back and the door opened, the bar would have prevented access to the stair. This straight stairway rises westward within the wall to the first floor. The passage directly facing the door enters a rib vaulted basement. This consists of a large single room, with mural stairs leading to the floor above at various points, and a recess within the wall contains the well. There are several arrow slot windows which provide light and enhance the defensive features of the castle.
A recess within the wall at first floor level also allows access to the well. The first floor contained the great hall, also vaulted, which has a large fireplace and windows with stone seats. The intact north eastern tower is entered from here.
The basement of this tower contains a guard room entered from just within the main door, and this room contains the hatch which opens to reveal a pit prison. The upper floors must be accessed from the hall. There is a single room to each floor, and you climb by modern wrought iron ladders to the centre of the floor of each. This can be a harrowing experience for sufferers of vertigo, as it is possible to look down to your starting point several floors below! There are four storeys above the basement, each illuminated by long slot windows. The upper storey, containing the Lord’s bedroom, has a larger window to the east. The corbelling which supported a parapet and bartizans at the open sides is continuous, though it is likely that this has been added in the renovations which were undertaken to commemorate Queen Victoria’s visit to the city in 1847. The view from the roof is well worth the trauma of the climb.
Little remains of the south eastern tower other than a vaulted basement.
The original ringwork defences were constructed by Sir Robert de Croc ( hence Crookston) of Neilston in the 12th century. The estate was purchased in 1330 by Sir Alan Stewart of the Darnley Stewarts, and his descendants built the castle around 1400. This family gained the Earldom of Lennox in 1425 on the execution for treason of the old Celtic Earl and his heirs. In 1489 the family, with the Lyles of Duchal, went into rebellion against James 4th. His reply was severe. Bringing the great bombard Mons Meg from Edinburgh, he destroyed the western end of the castle forcing it's submission. He continued to Duchal, with or without the cannon, repeated his action, and then to Dumbarton, where Lord Darnley, son of the Earl was in charge.
In 1544 the Regent Arran and Cardinal Beaton laid siege to the castle whilst the Earl of Lennox was holding Glasgow Castle against would be assailants.
A later Lord Darnley was to become husband of Mary Queen of Scots, and it is beneath an ancient yew tree at the castle that they were allegedly betrothed. This tree was cut down in the 19th century, and its wood used to create a carved model of Crookston, which can now be seen in Pollok House. Darnley was murdered at Kirk O’ Field in Edinburgh in 1567.
It passed through various hands, until in 1757 it was sold by the Graham Duke of Montrose to the Maxwells of Pollok.
Sir John Stirling Maxwell was a founder of the National Trust for Scotland, and gifted them Crookston as their first property in 1931. It is still owned by the trust, though administered by Historic Scotland.
http://www.ancient-s.../site.php?a=186
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