Houses of Interest: Central Scotland

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After a brief sojourn in the Marches, it's back to Scotland for the  ECWtravelogue. Today's post looks at Central Scotland, and the (alleged) jewel in the crown of Scottish Castles - Stirling.

Stirling Castle, from the Rose Garden

The Royal palace of Stirling Castle, had fallen into "ruin and decay"  when Anne of Denmark chose to travel to Stirling for the birth of her first child in December 1593. Prompting James VI (later James VI/I)to order repairs on the palace. 


in your face Wallace Memorial!

The Royal Family would spend time here until the Union of the Crowns of 1603, when his father succeeded as King of England and the family left for London.

the Castle's gatehouse battle scars

formal gardens laid out for Charles & Henrietta Maria, the central 'earthwork' is the King's Knot

Now effectively redundant, the Palace became a prison for persons of note. Restoration work continued, and preparation were made for the visit of Charles I, who stayed but briefly in 1633.

detail of the chapel decoration for Charles I

Royalist troops fleeing Dunbar sought sanctuary, and a rallying point to renew their efforts, at Stirling.

battle damage from Monck's siege

gable end of the Great Hall still showing its battle scars

Monck marched on the town, erecting gun batteries in the adjacent Churchyard of the Holy Rude. 

the Church of the Holy Rude's battle scars

Monck's 5000 strong force had heavy cannon and siege mortars. Colonel Cunningham's garrison of 300 men forced their commanding officer to seek terms. Monck offered honourable terms, after which the Castle was garrisoned for Parliament.

Churchyard of the Holy Rude

What's there now?
Stirling Castle is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. Stirling is very much on the international tourist trail, so expect to be elbowed out of the way by tour guides and their entourages on their whistle-stop tour of the castle.

The Church of the Holy Rude is located close to the Castle, a separate entry fee is required. Access to the kirkyard is unfettered. Look out for musket ball marks on the oldest tombstones.

Cowane's Hospital

Adjacent to the Church of the Holy Rude is Cowane's Hospital, a 17th-century almshouse. It was established in 1637 with a bequest of 40,000 merks from the estate of the merchant John Cowane. There's evidence of the street fighting that took place here prior to the castle falling - go into the kirkyard and look at the hospital's wall that backs on to it.

The Castle would fall on 14th  August 1651 after an 8 day siege.

Castle Campbell

Castle Campbell resisted Montrose's siege throughout 1644 and 1645. It would be garrisoned again in 1648 by Captain William Blackburn for Argyll. The Tower is remotely located on working farmland, so please close any gates you pass through.

Doune Castle, garrisoned by Montrose for the King, conflict passed the Castle by. In 1654, during Glencairn's rising against the occupation of Scotland by Oliver Cromwell, a skirmish took place at Doune between Royalists under Sir Mungo Murray, and English troops commanded by Major Tobias Bridge.

Doune/Winterfell

It looks familiar I hear you say... it appeared in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (it is where John Cleese's French k-nig-ht taunted King Arthur and Patsy). It was also the location for Winterfell in Game of Thrones. And of course, it appeared in Outlander.


Loch Dochart Castle was captured by Montrose in December 1644, who sent men masquerading as messengers from Argyll. Once inside Montrose's men revealed their identity and quickly took control of the Castle. The ruined tower can be seen when driving past Loch Dochart on the A85

Dumbarton Castle

Dumbarton Castle was seized by the Covenanters in 1639, who captured the Castle's governor whilst he was at church. They took his keys to gain entry and take the Castle without using force. The Castle was returned to the Crown by the Treaty of Berwick at the end of The First Bishops' war. Taken by force by Monck in December 1651, it would quickly be reoccupied by Royalists, only for it to fall to Lambert in 1652. The Castle would be back in Royalist hands in 1654 after a surprise attack.

Dumbarton Castle is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, much of it's impressive defences date from the C18th.

Asgog/Ascog Tower

Asgog Tower, sounding like something fom Middle Earth, Asgog was besieged for a number of weeks in Spring 1646. Archibald Campbell and his clan, used the cover of the Civil War to settle a number of local 'difficulties' and 'beefs'. This was one such event. The Campbells set fire to the Castle forcing the surviving Lamonts to surrender. The Tower is located on the banks of Asgog Loch, close to Millhouse. Expect a long walk from Millhouse to glimpse the castle.
     
Castle Toward

Castle Toward  was Sir James Lamont's main base for raiding Campbell land. It will come as no surprise that a similar fate to those as Asgog Tower awaited. The Campbells attacked the Castle in May 1646. Cannon fire breaching the walls. Sir James surrendered, accepting 'honourable terms'. 

Lamont memorial

However the garrison, along with captives from Asgog were killed in the Dunoon Massacre. Over 300 Lamonts died, a memorial stands in Dunoon close to the site of their murder on Tom-A-Mhoid Road.


The ruins of Castle Toward stand in the grounds of the C19th Castle Lamont. 

Duart Castle

Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull is the ancestral home of Clan Maclean. Sir Lachlan Maclean joined Montrose's cause but when Leslie invaded Mull in 164, the castle fell to Leslie. Sir Allan regained the Castle upon the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, only to lose the Castle again to the Earl of Argyll in 1674 due to significant debts.

The Castle is privately owned, but can be visited between April and October.

Menstrie Castle

Menstrie Castle is a three-storey manor house in the town of Menstrie, Clackmannanshire. It would be burnt down by Montrose's troops on route to the Kilsyth. The castle was restored in the 20th century, and now incorporates holiday accommodation, private flats and museum. The museum is now open by request through the Menstrie Community Council.



Postcodes for SatNavs
Stirling Castle, Castle Wynd, Stirling FK8 1EJ
Church of the Holy Rude, St John Street, Stirling FK8 1ED
Cowane's Hospital, St John Street, Stirling FK8 1ED
Castle Campbell, Dollar FK14 7PP
Doune Castle, Castle Hill, Doune FK16 6EA
Loch Dochart Castle, Crianlarich FK20 8QS
Dumbarton Castle, Castle Road, Dumbarton G82 1JJ
Asgog Tower, Tighnabruaich PA21
Castle Toward, Dunoon PA23 7UE
Lamont Memorial, Tom-A-Mhoid Road (A815), Dunoon PA23 7HS
Menstrie Castle, Castle Road, Menstrie FK11 7AF

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