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Strathaven Castle today

Scotland · Ruin

Strathaven Castle

Strathaven Castle is a medieval castle ruin in the centre of Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Built on a rocky, partly artificial mound above the Powmillon Burn, the stone keep and round tower survive as the most visible remains. The site is a scheduled ancient monument and has been long abandoned.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1560

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1560

What Strathaven Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact three-storey rectangular stone block (roughly 11.2m by 21.2m) with a taller four-storey cylindrical tower at its north-west corner and a small projecting wing to the south-east, all of roughly grey-brown rubble stone. The castle sits atop a rocky, partly artificial grassy mound surrounded by a low barmkin wall, with steep banks of the Powmillon Burn to the east, south and west; roofs and battlements intact, the tower pierced by wide gunloops.

Its story

The story of Strathaven Castle.

Strathaven Castle, also known as Avondale Castle, stands on a rocky, partly artificial mound defended by the steep banks of the Powmillon Burn, in the centre of Strathaven in South Lanarkshire. The castle passed to the Sinclairs and then to the Earls of Douglas, and after James II's suppression of the Douglases in 1455 it was sacked and slighted.

In 1457 Strathaven was granted to Sir Andrew Stewart, an illegitimate grandson of Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany; as Lord Avondale he either rebuilt the earlier castle or built anew on the site. Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, who took it in 1534, expanded the buildings, and in 1611 the castle was sold to James, Marquis of Hamilton. Its last occupant was Anne, Duchess of Hamilton (1632–1716), whose main residence was Hamilton Palace.

Tradition holds that the wife of a past lord was walled up alive here, led into a purpose-built niche, blessed by a priest, given food and water, and sealed in forever; when part of the walls came down in the mid-19th century, human bones were reportedly found. The ruin, a scheduled ancient monument, comprises a three-storey rectangular block and a round tower with wide gunloops, probably added in the 16th century.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1560.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Strathaven Castle, including 2 interiors: main courtyard on top of the mound, basement vault (collapsed). 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 town roadTop of mound by the barmkinNorth-west round tower exteriorTower entrance (low threshold)North wall and curtain remainsMain courtyard on top of the moundBasement vault (collapsed)South-east projecting wing exteriorView from the Powmillon Burn

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Whose castle

Clans who held Strathaven Castle.

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

  • Douglas

    Held by the Earls of Douglas until their suppression by James II in 1455.

  • Stewart

    Granted in 1457 to Sir Andrew Stewart, later Lord Avondale, who rebuilt the castle.

  • Hamilton

    Sir James Hamilton of Finnart held and expanded it from 1534; sold in 1611 to James, Marquis of Hamilton, whose duchess was its last occupant.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Strathaven Castle.

Hampden Park, ScotlandStadiumHampden Park20 km awayLesser Hampden, ScotlandStadiumLesser Hampden21 km awayCeltic Park, ScotlandStadiumCeltic Park21 km away

Questions about Strathaven Castle

What is the history of Strathaven Castle?

Strathaven Castle's documented story begins in the 14th century, with origins described as obscure and a possible construction around 1350. It passed from the Sinclairs to the Earls of Douglas, and was sacked and slighted after James II suppressed the Douglases in 1455. Sir Andrew Stewart received it in 1457, Sir James Hamilton of Finnart expanded it in 1534, and it was abandoned in 1717.

What is inside Strathaven Castle?

Inside Strathaven Castle, the main courtyard lies on top of the mound, while the remains of a collapsed basement vault can be seen. The surviving interior fabric is limited, as much of the original detail has been obscured by modern concrete infill.

Was Strathaven Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Strathaven Castle was attacked in 1455, when it was sacked and slighted after James II suppressed the Earls of Douglas. The material does not record a prolonged siege or say that the castle held; it records that the assault damaged the castle and that little or nothing of the early structure remained.

Which family or clan held Strathaven Castle?

The Earls of Douglas held Strathaven Castle until James II suppressed them in 1455. Sir Andrew Stewart was granted it in 1457 and rebuilt the castle, while Sir James Hamilton of Finnart held and expanded it from 1534. In 1611 it was sold to James, Marquis of Hamilton.

What did Strathaven Castle look like in its prime?

At its most complete, Strathaven Castle was a compact three-storey rectangular stone block, roughly 11.2m by 21.2m, with a taller four-storey cylindrical tower at the north-west corner. A small projecting wing stood to the south-east. The grey-brown rubble-stone castle sat on a rocky, partly artificial grassy mound, with a barmkin wall, intact roofs and battlements, and wide gunloops in the tower.

Is Strathaven Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Strathaven Castle is a ruin, but its north wall and round tower remain almost complete, with fragments of the other walls. The castle's three-storey rectangular block and four-storey tower survive as the most visible remains. The ruin has been long abandoned, and the castle was abandoned in 1717.

Can you visit Strathaven Castle?

Strathaven Castle is closed to the public. The ruin has been closed for five years, and access has not yet been renewed. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with the mound and surviving castle remains forming the site.

Where is Strathaven Castle?

Strathaven Castle is in the centre of Strathaven, in South Lanarkshire. It stands on a rocky, partly artificial mound above the Powmillon Burn, whose steep banks defend the site to the east, south and west.

When was Strathaven Castle built?

Strathaven Castle dates from around the 14th century, although its exact first construction date is not recorded. One account places its possible construction around 1350, while the surviving form was rebuilt or newly built by Sir Andrew Stewart after 1457 and expanded by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart in 1534.

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