Lews Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lews Castle
The Castle & Sea Gate Lodge (right)
Built	1844–1851
Built for	Sir James Matheson, 1st Baronet
Architect	Charles Wilson
Owner	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Listed Building – Category A
Designated	25 March 1971
Reference no.	LB18677
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Lews Castle (in Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Leòdhais) is a beautiful old castle. It is located on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. The castle sits just west of the town of Stornoway.

This grand building was constructed during the Victorian era, between 1844 and 1851. It was designed as a large country home. Today, Lews Castle is a popular spot for visitors. It features a museum, a cafe, and even luxury apartments.

Lews Castle: A Grand Scottish Home

Lews Castle is a stunning Victorian-era castle. It stands proudly on the Isle of Lewis. The castle was built to be a magnificent home. It has a rich history, changing hands and uses many times.

Building a Dream Castle

The castle was built for Sir James Matheson. He was a very wealthy man. Sir James bought the entire Isle of Lewis a few years before building the castle. He used money he earned from his successful businesses.

The design of Lews Castle was created by Charles Wilson. He was a famous architect from Glasgow. Construction of the castle took seven years, from 1844 to 1851.

From Private Home to Public Gift

In 1918, the Matheson family sold the Lews Estate. This included the castle itself. The new owner was a businessman named Lord Leverhulme.

Lord Leverhulme was very generous. In 1923, he decided to give the castle to the people of Stornoway parish. This meant the castle became a public building.

A Castle at War

During the Second World War, Lews Castle played an important role. The British Navy took over the castle. It was used to house air and ground crew. These crews belonged to 700 Naval Air Squadron.

They operated six Supermarine Walrus aircraft. These planes launched from a slipway nearby. The naval base at the castle was known as HMS Mentor.

New Life for an Old Castle

After the war ended, the castle found a new purpose. In the 1950s, it became student accommodation. Students from Lews Castle College lived there.

However, after the student housing closed, the building was empty for many years. It was not used for several decades.

The local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, now owns the castle. Lews Castle is a very important building. It is protected as a category A listed building. This means it has special historical importance.

In 2011, Lews Castle received a large grant. The Heritage Lottery Fund gave £4.6 million. This money helped turn the castle into a museum and cultural centre. It is a bilingual centre, meaning it uses both English and Scottish Gaelic.

In 2016, parts of the castle reopened to the public. This included the ground floor, a beautiful ballroom, and a cafe. In 2017, a company called Natural Retreats opened luxury apartments inside the castle.

See also

In Spanish: Castillo de Lews para niños