Cartsburn Facts for Kids

The House of Cartsburn

The Barony of Cartsburn was a special kind of land ownership in Scotland. It was created in 1669 for Thomas Crawfurd of Cartsburn. This meant that the lands of Cartsburn, located near Greenock in Renfrewshire, became a "free barony." This title was held directly from the Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

The Cartsburn estate was also known as Crawfurdsburn. It included areas like Cartsdyke and parts of Easter Greenock Castle. The main home for the Barons of Cartsburn was the House of Cartsburn. This house was built in the 1600s.

Many important people have been connected to the Barony of Cartsburn. These include famous inventor James Watt, Scotland's national poet Robert Burns, and the poet Jean Adam. The current Baron is the 15th person to hold this title.

What is a Barony?
History of Cartsburn
- Famous Connections
Notable Barons of Cartsburn
Barons of Cartsburn (1669–Present)
See also

What is a Barony?

A barony in Scotland was like a special land area. It gave its owner, called a Baron, certain rights and powers. These rights were similar to those of a local lord. The Baron could hold a court to settle disputes among people living on their land. This system was part of Scotland's old feudal laws.

The Barony of Cartsburn was created in 1669. This happened when the land was declared in liberam baroniam. This Latin phrase means "into a free barony." It meant the land was held directly from the Prince of Scotland.

History of Cartsburn

The Barony of Cartsburn has a rich history. The main home, the House of Cartsburn, was built in the 17th century. It was located near Greenock in Renfrewshire.

One special thing about Cartsburn is its old court records. Parts of the Baron Court Book of Cartsburn have been published. This book shows how people lived and what happened in the area long ago. It's a great source for understanding local history.

George Crawfurd was a member of the Crawfurd family of Cartsburn. He was the brother of the second Baron. George Crawfurd was famous for writing The Peerage of Scotland. This was a very important book about Scottish noble families. It's thought that through his writings, old family papers came to the Crawfurds of Cartsburn.

Famous Connections

Many well-known people were linked to the Barony of Cartsburn:

James Watt: The famous inventor of the improved steam engine grew up near the Barony. His father helped build a large house in Greenock. His grandfather, Thomas Watt, was a local official for the Barony.
Robert Burns: Scotland's beloved poet was invited to stay at the Cartsburn estate. This invitation came from the 4th Baron, Thomas Crawfurd. Burns even mentioned the Baron in some of his writings.
Jean Adam: This poet published her poems in 1734. She dedicated her work to the Baron of Cartsburn.

Notable Barons of Cartsburn

Over the centuries, several Barons of Cartsburn stood out:

Thomas Crawfurd, 4th Baron

Thomas Crawfurd of Cartsburn was the 4th Baron. He was known for inviting Robert Burns to his estate. Burns himself wrote about Thomas Crawfurd's "ingenious, friendly, and elegant epistle." This shows that the Baron was a clever and kind person. He was also known for having a large collection of books.

Thomas Macknight Crawfurd, 8th Baron

Thomas Macknight Crawfurd of Cartsburn and Lauriston Castle was the 8th Baron. He bought Lauriston Castle in 1871. He made many improvements to the castle grounds. He even brought some special architectural pieces from his Cartsburn estate to Lauriston.

Mark Lindley-Highfield, 14th Baron

Mark Lindley-Highfield of Ballumbie Castle was the 14th Baron. When he was a student, he worked as an editor for his university newspaper. He resigned because of disagreements over editorial freedom. His fight for independence gained support from politicians. They even brought up the issue in the UK Parliament. He held the title from 2008 to 2010.

Barons of Cartsburn (1669–Present)

Here is a list of the people who have held the title of Baron or Baroness of Cartsburn:

Thomas Crawfurd of Cartsburn, 1st Baron of Cartsburn (1669–1695)
Thomas Crawfurd of Cartsburn, 2nd Baron of Cartsburn (1695–1743)
Archibald Crawfurd of Cartsburn, 3rd Baron of Cartsburn (1743–1783)
Thomas Crawfurd of Cartsburn, 4th Baron of Cartsburn (1783–1791)
Christian Crawfurd of Crawfurdsburn, 5th Baroness of Cartsburn (1791–1796)
Christian Crawfurd of Crawfurdsburn, 6th Baroness of Cartsburn (1796–1818)
William Macknight Crawfurd of Ratho, 7th Baron of Cartsburn (1818–1855)
Thomas Macknight Crawfurd of Cartsburn and Lauriston Castle, 8th Baron of Cartsburn (1856–1909)
Marion Woddrop Dennistoun Mitchell Crawfurd of Cartsburn, 9th Baroness of Cartsburn (1909–1912)
Lilian Parkinson or Macknight Crawfurd of Cartsburn, 10th Baroness of Cartsburn (1912–1912)
Robert Arthur Christie Crawfurd of Cartsburn, 11th Baron of Cartsburn (1912–1935)
Amy Christie Crawfurd of Cartsburn, 12th Baroness of Cartsburn (1935–1958)
Alan Howard Crawfurd Colls, 13th Baron of Cartsburn (1958–2008)
Mark Paul Lindley-Highfield of Ballumbie Castle, 14th Baron of Cartsburn (2008–2010)
Dr. Pier Felice degli Uberti, 15th Baron of Cartsburn (2010–Present)

Cartsburn facts for kids

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