Crookston Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crookston Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Pollok Glasgow, Scotland | |
Crookston Castle in 2005
|
|
| Site history | |
| Built | 12th century; rebuilt c. 1400 |
| Built by | Sir Robert de Croc |
Crookston Castle is an ancient castle located in the Pollok area of southwest Glasgow, Scotland. It stands about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of the city center. The castle overlooks the Levern Water river, just before it joins the White Cart Water.
Contents
Discovering Crookston Castle's Past
Crookston Castle is surrounded by a defensive ditch that was dug in the 12th century. This was when Sir Robert de Croc, who gave his name to the nearby village of Crookston, built a castle here. His first castle was made of timber and earth. We know there was even an older fort on this spot before that!
Who Owned Crookston Castle?
In 1330, Sir Alan Stewart bought the lands of Crookston. Later, in 1361, the castle passed to Sir John Stewart of Darnley. The Darnley Stewarts then replaced the old timber castle with the stone one we see today, around the year 1400.
Battles and Sieges at the Castle
In 1489, the Stewart Earl of Lennox rebelled against King James IV. King James brought a huge cannon called Mons Meg from Edinburgh to attack the castle. The cannon almost completely destroyed the castle's western side, leading to a quick surrender.
Later, in 1544, the castle was attacked and captured by the Earl of Arran and Cardinal Beaton. This happened while the Earl of Lennox was defending Glasgow Castle. At that time, Crookston was seen as the main home of the Earls of Lennox.
Famous Visitors and Owners
One of the most famous Darnley Stewarts was Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. He was the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. It's thought that they might have gotten engaged at Crookston, possibly under a large yew tree. This yew tree was cut down in 1816. A model of Crookston Castle, carved from its wood, is now on display at Pollok House. In 1572, the castle was given to another Stewart, Charles, the Earl of Lennox.
Crookston Castle Today
In 1703, the Duke of Lennox sold the castle to the Duke of Montrose. It stayed with the Dukes of Montrose until 1757, when it was sold to the Maxwells of Pollok.
After being left empty for many years, the Maxwells partly fixed up the castle in 1847. They did this to honor Queen Victoria's visit to Glasgow. In 1931, Crookston Castle became the very first property owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It was given to them by Sir John Maxwell Stirling-Maxwell, who helped start the Trust.
Today, Crookston Castle is a protected historical site. Historic Environment Scotland is in charge of looking after it, and the castle is open for everyone to visit. It is the second-oldest building in Glasgow, after Glasgow Cathedral.
What Does Crookston Castle Look Like?
Crookston Castle sits on top of a natural hill. The old defensive ditch from the 12th century can still be seen around it. To the north, the ground drops steeply down to the Levern Water river.
Castle Design and Features
The main part of the castle is rectangular. It was made stronger with a tower at each corner. This gave it an unusual 'X-plan' shape, which is also seen at Hermitage Castle. Only the tower in the northeast corner still stands tall. The basement of the southeast tower also remains. The two western towers were destroyed in the 15th century and were never rebuilt.
The main part of the castle is about 19 meters long and 12 meters wide. Its walls are very thick, up to 3.7 meters! The northeast tower is about 6 meters square.
Inside the Castle
The entrance is on the north side, next to the northeast tower. It was protected by a portcullis (a heavy gate that drops down) and two doors. Inside, a straight staircase built into the wall leads up to the right. Straight ahead is a basement with a rounded ceiling, called a barrel-vault. It has narrow windows and a well.
The main hall was on the first floor and also had a vaulted ceiling, reaching 8.3 meters high. A spiral staircase in the southeast corner led to another floor above the hall. It also gave access to rooms in the eastern towers. Each tower had one room on each floor. In the basement of the northeast tower, there's a prison that could only be reached from above! From the top of this tower, you can get an amazing view from the roof.
Crookston Castle in Stories and Poems
Several famous poets have written about Crookston Castle. These include Robert Burns, William Motherwell, and Robert Tannahill.
Sir Walter Scott, in his 1820 novel The Abbot, wrote that Mary, Queen of Scots, watched the Battle of Langside from under the castle's yew tree. However, looking at the land, it's not actually possible to see the battle from there!
