Mearns Castle facts for kids
Mearns Castle is an old castle from the 1400s. It is a type of building called a tower house. You can find it in Newton Mearns, which is south of Glasgow, Scotland. This castle is very important, so it's a special "Category A" listed building. Today, Mearns Castle has been fixed up. It is now part of the Maxwell Mearns Castle Church. A local school, Mearns Castle High School, is even named after it!
Contents
History of Mearns Castle
Who Built Mearns Castle?
Mearns Castle was built by Herbert, Lord Maxwell. He got special permission from the king to build it in 1449. The Maxwell family owned the castle for many years.
Changing Owners of the Castle
Later, King James VI asked the Maxwell family to give the castle to the crown. In the mid-1600s, Sir George Maxwell bought it. After that, it belonged to the Shaw-Stewart family.
Mearns Castle Today
In 1971, the remaining parts of the tower were changed. They became a connection between two Church of Scotland buildings. This means the old castle is now part of a church!
What Mearns Castle Looks Like
Outside the Castle Walls
Mearns Castle was first a tall, rectangular tower. It was about 30 feet (9 meters) wide and 40 feet (12 meters) long. The walls were very thick, about 10 feet (3 meters) wide! The lower parts of the walls are made of rough stones. The upper parts use well-cut stone blocks. This might mean the tower was built on older foundations.
The main entrance was on the first floor. People used a ladder to reach it. Now, this entrance is closed off.
Castle Defenses
There are only small signs left of the castle's outer defenses. A wall called a barmkin once followed the edge of the rocky hill where the castle stands. The ground on one side was cut away to make a bank about 10 feet (3 meters) high. A path led over this bank to the tower's gate.
Inside the Castle
Inside, there is a basement room with a curved ceiling. You could get to it from the main entrance. The first floor has a large hall, also with a curved ceiling. A straight stone staircase leads up to this hall. It has stone seats by the windows. Long ago, it even had a special area for musicians!
