Renfrew Castle
Renfrew Castle refers to two related medieval strongholds at Renfrew, Scotland: an early motte on the King's Inch river islet and a later borough castle by the High Street; the King's Inch site was rebuilt in the 15th century as Inch Castle. Both castles were dismantled in the 18th century and no substantial fabric survives above ground today. The precise footprint of the Inch Castle lies within the modern Braehead/Elderslie development area.
Its prime
1500
Today
Demolished
As it stood in 1500
What Renfrew Castle looked like in its prime.
The site comprises two river-side castle phases: the King's Inch occupies a small islet in the River Clyde and was originally a motte with a timber keep on exposed stone foundations; in the later 15th century the islet was occupied by Inch Castle, a four-storey stone building with crow-stepped gables and a central stair-tower corbelled out above the first floor. The town castle sat at the north end of Renfrew High Street beside the Clyde ferry approach.
Its story
The story of Renfrew Castle.
The first castle at Renfrew was raised in the 12th century by Walter fitz Alan on the King's Inch, a river islet in the Clyde granted to him by King David I when Walter was made first hereditary Steward of Scotland. In the 13th century the Stewart family, his descendants, built a new residence at the north end of the old High Street of Renfrew, by the road to the Clyde ferry.
Captured by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence, Renfrew was granted by Edward I to Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, in 1301, and by Edward Balliol's charter to David de Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, in 1332. When the Steward acceded as King Robert II in 1371, the castle became a royal residence.
In the later 15th century the King's Inch was granted to Sir John Ross, who built Inch Castle over the ruins of Walter's motte. The Ross family occupied it until 1732, and in 1760 it was sold to Andrew Spiers of Elderslie. Both castles were demolished in the 18th century, and nothing remains above ground at either site.
Step inside
4 places to explore in 1500.
The record describes 4 distinct spots at Renfrew Castle — including 1 interior: inside the central stair-tower. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate Renfrew Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1500 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate this castle →Whose castle
Clans who held Renfrew Castle.
The families that held Renfrew Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Nearby
