Clan Rising
Bedlay Castle today

Scotland · Still standing

Bedlay Castle

Bedlay Castle is a late 16th–18th century castle on a volcanic crag above the Bothlyn Burn near Chryston and Moodiesburn in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The original late 16th-century tower house was extended in the late 17th century with a large west wing and round corner towers, and an 18th-century linking block was later added; it remains a privately owned, occupied house and is Category A listed.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1780

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1780

What Bedlay Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a volcanic crag above the Bothlyn Burn and protected on three sides by watercourses, the building combines a late 16th‑century two‑storey tower house with attic and a projecting square stair tower at its north‑east corner, a late 17th‑century west extension of equal height finished by round towers at both western corners, and an 18th‑century two‑storey linking block to the north; stone masonry walls, pitched roofs and large sash windows complete the silhouette.

Its story

The story of Bedlay Castle.

In 1580 James Boyd of Trochrig, then titular Protestant Archbishop of Glasgow, granted the lands of Bedlay to his kinsman Robert Boyd, 4th Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock, and the castle was built soon after, a simple tower house of two storeys and an attic, with two vaulted cellars and a hall above, on a natural defensive point protected on three sides by watercourses.

The Boyds held the castle until 1642, when James, 9th Lord Boyd sold it to the advocate James Roberton, later Lord Bedlay. The Robertons extended it in the late 17th century with a large west wing finished with round corner towers, one concealing a hidden room beneath, and held the property until 1786. Later owners included the Campbells of Petershill, who built a family mausoleum in the grounds and brought the stone balustrades and gate piers from their now-demolished property.

An 18th-century linking block, sash windows and the division of the main hall completed the house, which has gathered several ghostlore stories over the years. Bedlay remains privately owned and occupied, and is Category A listed.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1780.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Bedlay Castle, including 4 interiors: vaulted cellars (ground floor), principal hall on the first floor, upper chamber in west extension and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

South approach and laneNorth-east projecting stair tower (exterior)Vaulted cellars (ground floor)Principal hall on the first floorWestern extension and corner towers (exterior)Upper chamber in west extensionHidden lower room beneath west towerNorth linking block façadeEntrance gate, piers and balustrades in the groundsView from the Bothlyn Burn (riverbank)

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Whose castle

Clans who held Bedlay Castle.

The families that held Bedlay Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Boyd

    The Boyds of Kilmarnock held Bedlay from 1580 until 1642.

  • Roberton

    The Robertons, later Lords Bedlay, held and extended the castle from 1642 to 1786.

  • Campbell

    The Campbells of Petershill were among later owners, building the family mausoleum in the grounds.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Bedlay Castle.

Antonine Wall, ScotlandAncient siteAntonine Wall7 km awayCeltic Park, ScotlandStadiumCeltic Park9 km awayGlasgow Cathedral, ScotlandCathedralGlasgow Cathedral10 km away

Questions about Bedlay Castle

What is the history of Bedlay Castle?

Bedlay Castle was built soon after 1580 as a defensive tower house for Robert Boyd, 4th Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock. The Boyds held it until 1642, when James, 9th Lord Boyd sold it to James Roberton, later Lord Bedlay. The Robertons extended the castle in the late 17th century, and the property remained with them until 1786; later owners included the Campbells of Petershill.

What is inside Bedlay Castle?

Bedlay Castle contains vaulted cellars on the ground floor and a principal hall on the first floor. The west extension has an upper chamber and a hidden lower room beneath one of its round towers. The main hall was later divided into two rooms, and the original tower house had two vaulted cellars with a hall above.

Why was Bedlay Castle built, and what was it used for?

Bedlay Castle was built as a defensive tower house on a natural defensive point protected on three sides by watercourses. Its original structure provided vaulted cellars and a hall above, while later additions turned it into a larger house. An 18th-century linking block, large sash windows and the division of the main hall completed the domestic form.

Does anyone live in Bedlay Castle now?

Bedlay Castle is still a privately owned and occupied house. The supplied material does not name its current owner. It is also a Category A listed building.

Where is Bedlay Castle?

Bedlay Castle is between Chryston and Moodiesburn in North Lanarkshire. It stands above the Bothlyn Burn, on a volcanic crag protected on three sides by watercourses. The castle is around 8 miles north-east of Glasgow.

When was Bedlay Castle built?

Bedlay Castle was first built soon after 1580, in the late 16th century. It was enlarged in the late 17th century with a large west wing and round corner towers, followed by an 18th-century two-storey linking block to the north. The first-raised year is not recorded.

Which family or clan held Bedlay Castle?

The Boyds of Kilmarnock held Bedlay Castle from 1580 until 1642. The Robertons, later Lords Bedlay, held and extended it from 1642 to 1786. Among the later owners were the Campbells of Petershill, who built a family mausoleum in the grounds.

What did Bedlay Castle look like in its prime?

Bedlay Castle combines a late 16th-century two-storey tower house with an attic and a projecting square stair tower at the north-east corner. A late 17th-century west extension of equal height ends in round towers, while an 18th-century linking block stands to the north. Stone masonry walls, pitched roofs and large sash windows complete the silhouette.

Is Bedlay Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Bedlay Castle is still standing and intact rather than a ruin. The surviving building includes the late 16th-century tower house, the late 17th-century west extension and the 18th-century linking block. It remains privately owned and occupied as a house.

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