Johnstone Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnstone Castle
Johnstone Castle in 2019
Location	Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Built	1560
Listed Building – Category B

Johnstone Castle is a historic building in the town of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland. It was once a large mansion and is now a private home. The castle is most famous for a special visit from a very well-known musician.

A Look at Johnstone Castle's Past

Johnstone Castle was first built around 1560. It later became the home of the Houstoun family of Milliken. They bought the land in 1773.

How the Castle Changed Over Time

The castle was made much bigger in 1771 and again in 1812. A man named George Houstoun had the building redesigned. It was given a "castellated" look, which means it was made to look like a medieval castle. This included adding a small tower on the left side. An architect named James Gillespie Graham might have helped with this design.

Inside the castle, some of the most interesting parts were the rooms on the ground floor. These rooms had rounded, barrel-shaped ceilings. Outside, the castle had decorations that looked like battlements, which are the notched walls often seen on old castles. It also had a rope-like stone band around the building.

The Castle's Changing Surroundings

The castle and its grounds were once thought to be very beautiful. However, the town of Johnstone grew bigger and bigger. This meant the castle's land slowly got smaller. By the early 1900s, most of the original estate had disappeared.

In 1950, a large part of the house was taken down. In 1956, the local council bought most of the remaining land. They used it to build new houses.

What Remains of the Castle Today

Today, only the central square tower of Johnstone Castle is left. There is also an older section with a special type of stepped gable and a small corner turret. The tower was in poor condition for a while. But it was bought in 2001 and has since been repaired. It is now a private home. The tower is also a protected building, known as a Category B listed building.

Frédéric Chopin's Visit

Johnstone Castle's biggest claim to fame is a visit from the famous Polish composer Frédéric Chopin in 1848. He was invited by Anne Houstoun, who was married to the castle's owner, Ludovic.

Chopin's Scottish Tour

Chopin's visit was part of his tour of Scotland. Anne's sister, Jane Wilhelmina Stirling, was a student and close friend of the composer. She helped arrange his trip.

At first, Chopin really liked the castle and its grounds. He wrote about his stay in a letter, saying: "I am staying at Mrs Houston's house. The Castle is very handsome, opulent, one leads life on a grand scale." This means he found the castle beautiful and the lifestyle grand.

A Difficult Stay

Unfortunately, the weather soon turned bad. Chopin wrote to his friend Wojciech Grzymała that he was feeling unwell and sad. He also felt overwhelmed by all the attention he was getting from people.

To make things worse, Chopin had a scary accident. He was riding in a carriage pulled by two horses. One of the horses suddenly reared up and broke free. Chopin was still inside when the carriage crashed into a tree and broke apart. Luckily, he managed to get out of the wreckage safely.