Craignethan Castle

Craignethan Castle

Craignethan Castle
Draffan (near)
Lanark
Glasgow
Scotland
ML11 9PL

Tel: 0131 668 8600
E-Mail: hs.members@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Web: Craignethan Castle

About Craignethan Castle

A hidden gem

Hidden away in the rolling hills of Clydesdale, Craignethan Castle is the last great private stronghold constructed in Scotland. It was without parallel, comprising an exceptional residential tower protected by a most unusual artillery fortification.

Its builder was also exceptional. Sir James Hamilton of Finnart was the eldest (but illegitimate) son of the 1st Earl of Arran. Following his father’s death in 1529, he became de facto head of the second most powerful family in Scotland after the royal Stewarts.

He also became a close friend to King James V. When his castle was nearing completion in 1536, Finnart entertained the king and his court at Craignethan, for his daughter’s wedding celebrations.

Hamilton of Finnart’s bolthole

Sir James Hamilton of Finnart spent his early years abroad, acquiring an unusual knowledge of architecture and fortification. On his father’s death in 1529, he took over running the family’s affairs. Over the next 11 years, he played a cunning but dangerous political game, becoming one of the biggest and richest landholders in southern Scotland. He befriended James V, rising to become his principal Master of Works.

He was instrumental in supervising important royal building works at Linlithgow Palace, Stirling Castle and elsewhere. But nowhere was his personal architectural stamp more obvious and inspired than Craignethan. This was his bolthole, where he created a quite extraordinary fortified residence way ahead of its day.

How are the mighty fallen

But Hamilton of Finnart fell from grace. In 1540 he was executed. His legitimate half-brother, Lord James, the 2nd Earl and future Regent, became lord of Craignethan. Thereafter, the Hamiltons continued to assert themselves in the political and military crises of the Protestant Reformation, supporting Mary Queen of Scots even after her abdication in 1567. They sheltered her at Craignethan prior to her defeat at Langside on 13 May 1568.

The end came in 1579. After a short siege, the two sons of the insane 3rd Earl of Arran fled into exile and Craignethan was slighted to render it unserviceable as a defence. After just 50 years, Hamilton of Finnart’s handiwork had been reduced to a ruin.

‘Tillietudlem Castle’

In the early 19th century, the ruined castle acquired a new fame. It was asserted that Craignethan was the inspiration for Tillietudlem Castle in Sir Walter Scott’s Old Mortality. Scott disclaimed the association, and even contemplated restoring Craignethan as his residence. But the great tower became firmly established as Lady Margaret Bellenden’s home, and a nearby railway halt was named Tillietudlem Station in its honour.