Tullichewan facts for kids

Tullichewan was once a large piece of land, or an estate, located in the Vale of Leven area of Scotland. It was very close to the famous Loch Lomond. The main building on this estate was Tullichewan Castle. This castle was built in 1792 but was taken down in 1954. It stood near the town of Alexandria, right by where the A82 road is today.

The History of Tullichewan Castle

The Story of Tullichewan

The name "Tullichewan" has changed over time. It was first called "Tuloch Eoghain," which means "the hill of Eoghan." In the 1600s, the land was bought by the Colquhoun family. For a while, it was known as Tully-Colquhoun or Tillyquhoun. Later, it became Tullichewan. In 1792, the Colquhoun clan sold the Tullichewan estate to a man named James Buchanan.

Building the Castle

Tullichewan Castle was designed in 1792. The architect was Robert Lugar, who also designed Balloch Castle. This castle was special because it was the first "asymmetrical Gothic" house in Scotland. This means it wasn't perfectly balanced on both sides, which was a new style for the time.

Castle Owners Over Time

The Horrocks family bought the castle in 1817. They lived there until 1843. After them, the estate was sold to William Campbell. He was a merchant from Glasgow. The Campbell family owned Tullichewan until the 1900s.

The Castle During Wartime

The last private owner was J Scott Anderson, who bought the house around 1930. When World War II started, the Royal Navy took over the Tullichewan Castle Estate. They used it as a camp for the rest of the war. The Tullichewan Castle Camp served many purposes. After the war, it housed workers from a nearby Royal Naval factory.

The End of the Castle

After the war, Mr. J Scott Anderson returned to live in the castle. However, keeping up with the large building became too difficult. The castle was then left empty. In 1954, it was finally destroyed using explosives.

What Remains Today

Most of the old Tullichewan estate is now covered by modern buildings. The A82 dual carriageway and the A811 road were built right through the grounds. New houses and the Vale of Leven Hospital also stand where the estate once was.

However, a few parts of the old estate can still be seen. The former stables and a small piece of the original tower are visible from the A82 road. The north gatehouse, or lodge, is gone, replaced by the Tullichewan Caravan Park. The estate also had a walled orchard there. The south gatehouse can still be found on Main Street in Alexandria, just north of Christie Park. There is no trace left of the wartime camp.