Accessibility

Font Size

100% 150% 200%

Background Colour

Default Contrast
Close Reset

Glasgow, Old Castle Road, Cathcart Castle

Ringwork (Possible), Tower House (Medieval)

Site Name Glasgow, Old Castle Road, Cathcart Castle

Classification Ringwork (Possible), Tower House (Medieval)

Alternative Name(s) Linn Park

Canmore ID 44305

Site Number NS56SE 43

NGR NS 58709 60054

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/44305

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

Toggle Aerial | View on large map

Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council Glasgow, City Of
  • Parish Cathcart (City Of Glasgow)
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District City Of Glasgow
  • Former County Lanarkshire

Recording Your Heritage Online

Cathcart Castle, 15th century (demolished)

The keep, about 15 by 9 metres (50 by 30 feet), with vaulted ground and upper floors, had an internal turnpike stair for security and was surrounded by a curtain wall. It fell out of use in the mid-16th century and about 1740 was dis-roofed, prior to a proposed demolition. This was not carried out until 1980, long after Glasgow Corporation had bought the estate to form Linn Park.

Taken from "Greater Glasgow: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Sam Small, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk

Archaeology Notes

NS56SE 43 58709 60054

For Linn Park (centred NS 585 593), see NS55NE 261.

(NS 5871 6005) Castle (NR) (rems of)

OS 6" map, (1967)

Cathcart Castle consists of a simple oblong keep, 51' x 30 3/4', surrounded at a distance of about 10', by curtain walls, strengthened with round corner towers. The ground floor of the keep is vaulted.

The estate of Cathcart belonged to a family of the same name from the 12th century. From its style, it may be assumed that this castle was erected in the 15th century. It was inhabited till about 1740, when the proprietor moved to a new house, and the roof of the castle was removed.

D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92; A H Millar 1889.

Cathcart Castle: A rectangular keep, the walls of which are now in a poor condition. They have been restored in places. Parts of the curtain wall can be seen, built into the natural rock escarpment on the S side of the keep. Here are the remains of a small tower with a shot-hole. A level area of ground W of the tower appears to have formed a small bailey.

The castle, property of the Earl of Cathcart, is closed to the public.

Visited by OS (J L D) 1 April 1954.

Welsh notes 'outline features on NE and E of monument on Court Hill, and on S of castle grounds immediately W of Old Castle Road, also on W side of Castle, suggesting a ringwork'.

Information contained in letter from T C Welsh to OS, 20 September 1974.

Cathcart Castle has had to be partially demolished as it was in a dangerous condition. The oblong keep has been reduced to a height of 3ft. It is hoped that the remaining walls can be consolidated, and a plaque put up.

Source: Glasgow Herald, 2 September, 1980.

At the N end of Linn Park (off Old Castle Road), lie the meagre remains of Cathcart Castle, atop a cliff overhanging the Cart. Only the lowest courses survive of the 15th century keep built by the Cathcarts. It was abandoned as a dwelling c. 1740, and sold for building materials. In 1866, it still had five storeys, and was surrounded by smaller buildings. It was a simple oblong structure within a barmkin, and had a first-floor hall over a crudely vaulted ground floor.

E Williamson, A Riches and M Higgs 1990.

Architecture Notes

NS56SE 43 58709 60054

NMRS REFERENCE:

Printroom

RIAS Nelson Collection.

Cathcart Castle

Engraved view of Cathcart Castle and Cartside Villa.

Insc: 'Drawn by J.Denholm, 1798. Engraved by R.Scott. Cathcart Castle and villa of Cartside, the property of J.Hill Esq.'

Unsigned. Dated '1798'

(106x172)

Acc. no.: 1993/89

Notes: The engraving is a plate from 'An elegant Collection of Interesting views in Scotland', 1802.

Missing at time of upgrade, 22.6.2000

EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

Mitchell Library, William Graham

Volume I

p.7 - photograph of burial ground

p.7 - old buildings in Courtyard of castle, photograph.

p.13 - castle and courtyard, photograph.

p.5 - sundial at castle, photograph.

National Library of Scotland - Nattes Drawings

1 Drawing Aug. 13 Vol I no 61

1 Drawing Aug. 13 Vol I no 62 showing mill

1 Drawing Aug. 13 Vol I no 63 of snuff mill near

Non-Guardianship Sites Plan Collection,DC23172- DC23174, 1924.

Activities

Excavation (1980 - 1981)

After the demolition of the medieval tower in 1980 (following a partial collapse in 1979) the site was excavated as a Manpower Services Scheme sponsored by Glasgow Urban Archaeology Support Group in 1980-81 prior to landscaping, to investigate the layout of the castle and barmkin.

References

MyCanmore Image Contributions


Contribute an Image

MyCanmore Text Contributions