[Gordon]

POLLOK HOUSE
City of Glasgow
OS64 NS549619
Off minor roads in Pollok Country Park, north of Haggs Road and west of Dumbreck Road, 0.75 miles south of M77 at Dumbreck Interchange.
The remains of the Laigh Castle of the Maxwells may constitute part of the garden wall near the stable block. The Maxwells had at least two earlier castles somewhere nearby, one possibly just south of the White Cart, on what is now a golf course. The site was destroyed when the gardens were laid out. The laigh Castle may have been built upon the site of the other.


In its original state there was a ditch with drawbridge, the river supplementing the defences to the south. The Maxwells abandoned the site in favour of their new castle at Haggs in 1585, but returned in 1750 when Pollok House was built. It was extended in 1890.
The Maxwells of Pollok were a branch of that which gained Mearns by marrying a Pollok heiress in the 13th century, Pollok being a division of the original estate. The family became the main branch of the local Maxwells, and became very influential in local affairs.

In 1966 after many years of selling portions of the estate off for development, Sir John Stirling Maxwell gifted the house and park to the City.
The house is used as a museum, and exhibition centre for local events. There is a hand carved model of Crookston Castle, fashioned from a branch of ‘ The Crookston Yew’ under which Queen Mary is alleged to have pledged her troth to Henry Lord Darnley.
In 1676, Sir George Maxwell took part in a Witch Trial in Gourock. Shortly afterwards he believed himself bewitched, suffering a ‘ hot and fiery distemper’. A local dumb girl disclosed that his effigies were to be found stuck with pins at the house of Janet Mathie widow to the miller of Shaw Mill. Janet , her son John Stewart( a warlock) , her daughter Annabel and another three women were tried in Paisley in 1677. Annabel was only 14years old, and was released, the others burned at the stake. Sir George recovered but lived for only a few short months. Janet Douglas, the dumb informant recovered her speech. The story has been dramatised for the stage.
The famous Burrell Collection is situated within the park and displays a fraction of Sir William Burrell’s collection of artwork, armour, weaponry and other antiquities. The collection is so large that it could not conceivably be displayed at one time, and so is frequently changed. Even after numerous visits, you will still find something new to see.
The park also contains a highland cattle enclosure, the Strathclyde Police Dog Handling School, Mounted Division, and other areas of interest.
Visiting open Easter to end September, Monday to Saturday, excluding Tuesday, 10am to 5pm, and 11am to 5pm Sundays. Phone 0141 632 0274
Other references; Laigh Castle, Nether Pollok.

Compare Mearns, Haggs, Auldhouse and Pollok Castle.

[Gordon]

Fro Canmore;

Quote

Archaeology Notes
NS56SE 46 5504 6164

NS56SW 31.00 54867 61850 Pollok House

Pollok has belonged to the Maxwell family since the later 13th century The present mansion (at NS 54867 61850) was finished in 1752, but a small portion of its 14th century predecessor and a fine 17th century gateway are incorporated in the stable block to the E.
R G Cant and I G Lindsay 1947; Information from revision Name Book 1934, 9.

Pollok House itself is not an antiquity, but the remains of its predecessor were located at NS 5504 6164 ('A'). This is simply a fragment of an old wall 3.0m in height and some 6.0m long, forming part of the rear wall of the stable block. The wall is composed of rough-dressed squared masonry, and in it is a small embrasured window. The 17th century gateway ('B') is at NS 5500 6166. This is of simple construction and is of no great interest. It forms a barrel-vault archway to the stable courtyard and has a cavity for a (?) portcullis. At NS 5500 6168 ('C'), in an old garden wall, is a recessed well-head which is now dry. It is uninscribed and undecorated, but appears old and may well be contemporary with the 17th century gateway.
To the SW, at NS 5494 6158, are the remains of a 17th century rectangular dovecot.
No further information was found during field investigation.
Visited by OS (J L D) 1 April 1954.

It seems that there were three castles of Nether Pollok built on the same site, the last being used as the dower house for a previous one until replaced by Haggs Castle (NS56SE 41) It then became the principal residence until it was in turn pulled down and replaced almost on the same site by Pollok House (the present mansion). An 18th century writer, visiting the last castle of Nether Pollok, says, "Upon an eminence near to this stood the old Castle of Pollok. . . where there are still the remains of a drawbridge and a fossy." (cf NS56SE 33 & 59). All traces of these castles have gone, although it is said that part of the last one can be seen in a garden wall of Pollok House.
P McDonald 1979.

NS 5500 6160 During cable-laying works at the southern end of the E range of the former stable block E of Pollok House, the sandstone capping of a well was broken. Glasgow Museums informed the Strathclyde Joint Archaeology Service, who carried out a recording visit. The well-shaft was not safely accessible, but was oval on plan and measured approximately 0.6m by 0.9m. It was dry when uncovered, and silted up to within 1.5m of the underside of the capstone, which was 0.15-0.2m thick and sealed by approximately 0.2m of modern make-up. The shaft was constructed of unbonded hand-made bricks and a lead pipe was let into the shaft from the N side, presumably a pump drawpipe for the building to the N. No well is marked on maps of the area from the 1st Edition OS (c1860) onwards. The well was recapped and the cable trench re-routed to the S of it.
Sponsor: Strathclyde Joint Archaeology Service.
Strathclyde Regional Council SMR 1995.