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Polnoon Castle today

Scotland · Ruin

Polnoon Castle

Polnoon Castle was a 14th‑century fortified house sited on a rectangular motte above the Polnoon Water in Millhall, Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire, held by the Montgomery family. The castle fell from use after the family moved to Eglinton; by the 17th century it was recorded as a ruin and today survives as a tree‑covered mound with scattered masonry.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1390

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1390

What Polnoon Castle looked like in its prime.

Polnoon sits on a rectangular motte 30 by 22 m at the base and 18 by 10 m on the top, at least 4 m high, set on a promontory above the Polnoon Water. In its prime the motte was encased by rubble masonry forming a central single‑storey block with flanking ranges and a massive corner tower; the north‑west corner and north range rise from bedrock. The remains consist of large chunks of local rubble stone, traces of a battered plinth on the south wall, a 1.6 m thick stretch of wall at the southeast base and a ditch across the east approach, all now partly moss‑covered and tree‑rooted.

Its story

The story of Polnoon Castle.

The Barony of Eaglesham formed part of the grant made by David I to Walter fitz Alan, founder of the house of Stewart, and the Montgomery family may well have held Eaglesham from Walter's own day, a Robert of Montgomery, one of his prominent tenants, appears as a witness in a charter to the Monastery of Paisley around 1160.

Sir John Montgomery, ninth laird of Eaglesham, was one of the heroes of the Battle of Otterburn in 1388, capturing Sir Henry Percy, nicknamed "Hotspur", in single combat and holding him to ransom. It is related that Sir John had a spur carved and placed above the castle door in memory of the exploit. The line also touched the throne: the seventh baron's daughter married Archibald Mure of Rowallan, and their great-granddaughter Elizabeth married King Robert II.

The 14th-century castle sat on a rectangular motte above the Polnoon Water, 30 by 22 metres at the base and at least 4 metres high, which may have been built for an earlier Montgomery castle, for the later structure encased the mound itself. Polnoon fell from use after the family moved to Eglinton; by the 17th century it was recorded as a ruin, and today large chunks of masonry lie scattered across the tree-covered mound and in the Polnoon Water below.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1390.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Polnoon Castle, including 2 interiors: north‑west tower angle (tower exterior/interior), north range footings. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from Polnoon WaterMotte summit with central rangeNorth‑west tower angle (tower exterior/interior)North range footingsSouth wall and battered plinthSoutheast courtyard wall baseEastern ditch and probable entranceEntrance recess with armorial panelView down to Polnoon–White Cart confluence

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Whose castle

Clans who held Polnoon Castle.

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

  • Montgomery

    Seat of the Montgomerys, lairds of Eaglesham from around 1160; Sir John Montgomery, ninth laird, captured "Hotspur" Percy at Otterburn in 1388.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Polnoon Castle.

Lesser Hampden, ScotlandStadiumLesser Hampden10 km awayHampden Park, ScotlandStadiumHampden Park10 km awayCeltic Park, ScotlandStadiumCeltic Park13 km away

Questions about Polnoon Castle

What is the history of Polnoon Castle?

Polnoon Castle was a 14th-century fortified house built for the Montgomery family after Sir John Montgomery captured Sir Henry Percy at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. The ransom paid for Percy’s release was used to build the castle. It later became less important after the Montgomerys moved to Eglinton, was refurbished in 1617, and was a ruin by 1676.

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

Polnoon Castle was built as a fortified residence for the Montgomery family, who held the Barony of Eaglesham. Its position on a motte above the Polnoon Water provided a strongly sited residence. After Eglinton Castle became the Montgomerys’ seat, Polnoon became less important and eventually fell into decay.

Where is Polnoon Castle?

Polnoon Castle is in Millhall, in the Parish of Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire. It stands on a promontory above the Polnoon Water, about a mile south of Eaglesham church. The Polnoon Water forms a confluence with the White Cart nearby.

When was Polnoon Castle built?

Polnoon Castle was built in the 14th century. The first-raised year is not recorded, while the castle’s prime date is given as 1390. The later structure encased a rectangular motte that may have been built for an earlier Montgomery castle.

Which family or clan held Polnoon Castle?

Polnoon Castle was held by the Montgomery family, the lairds of Eaglesham from around 1160. Sir John Montgomery, the ninth laird, captured Sir Henry Percy, known as “Hotspur”, at Otterburn in 1388. The castle was the Montgomerys’ seat before their move to Eglinton.

What did Polnoon Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Polnoon Castle was a rubble-masonry structure on a rectangular motte, with a central single-storey block, flanking ranges and a massive corner tower. The motte measured 30 by 22 metres at its base and 18 by 10 metres at the top, and was at least 4 metres high. The north-west corner and north range rose from bedrock.

Is Polnoon Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Polnoon Castle is a ruin. It survives mainly as a tree-covered mound with scattered masonry, including large chunks of local rubble stone. Remains include a battered plinth on the south wall, a 1.6-metre-thick stretch of wall at the south-east base and a ditch across the east approach; very little remains as recognisable structures.

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