Birkwood Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Birkwood Castle |
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Lodge gates at the front of Birkwood Castle in 2007
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Location | Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Construction started | 18th-century |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | James Thomson |
Birkwood Castle, also known as Birkwood House, is a large, old country house in Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in the 1700s. Over the years, it was made much bigger by the McKirdy family.
Later, in 1920, the local government bought the castle. They turned it into a hospital. After many years, the hospital closed down. Since then, people have tried to turn the building into something new. Some people even say the castle is haunted!
History of Birkwood Castle
Birkwood Castle was first built in the late 1700s. The very first part of the house is now the north side. The castle was made much bigger in 1858. It was built in a style called Gothic. This style often includes pointed arches and tall windows.
More additions were made in 1890. An architect named James Thomson designed a large new part on the west side. The castle and its land cover a huge area, about 86 acres. It is also a special "listed building," which means it's important and protected.
Birkwood Castle as a Hospital
In 1920, the local council bought Birkwood Castle for £10,000. It opened in July 1923 as a hospital. This hospital was special because it cared for children with learning disabilities. It was one of the few hospitals that only looked after children.
The hospital helped many young people for decades. However, in the 1990s, how mental health care was provided changed. Because of these changes, the hospital fully closed in 2005.
Future Plans for the Castle
After the hospital closed, there were plans to turn the castle into a hotel. In 2009, these plans were approved. But the company that was going to do the work ran into problems. So, the project didn't start.
In 2016, new plans were approved. These plans aimed to turn the castle into a hotel for about £15 million. This hotel was part of an even bigger plan. The idea was to spend £80 million to develop the castle and its grounds.
However, in 2018, the castle was put up for sale again. This happened because its owners had financial difficulties. Later that year, it was suggested that Birkwood Castle should be taken down. This was because it was considered a "major safety risk." The plan was to keep only the bell tower and the front entrance, as they were still safe.
