Description

The monument consists of the remains of a castle, probably of early 15th-century date. The castle was originally situated on an island in marshy ground. The site has since been flooded by the reservoir of Paisley Waterworks.

The castle is located approximately 30m from the W edge of the reservoir. The monument is L-shaped and has four storeys complete to the parapet.

It measures approximately 12m NE-SW by 12m NW-SE. The walls are about 10m high. The garret is ruined and the interior is filled with vegetation. The masonry is of good coursed rubble with dressed quoins. At the wallhead is a continuous parapet with a box machiolation in the re-entrant angle above the door. There are key-hole gun-loops at ground level on all sides. There is an oval gun-loop on the NW side.

There are six small windows on the NW side, two on each of the upper three levels (one on the first floor is blocked). On the E side there are four windows on the upper two levels and two blocked on the first floor. The entrance, now blocked, is set low in the SE wallface in the re-entrant angle. The area to be scheduled is a square orientated WNW-ESE with sides measuring a maximum of 42m and centred on the castle as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because it is a good example of a medieval fortalice. It preserves evidence for fifteenth century defensive architecture and may preserve information relating to the material culture and social systems of the occupants.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as NS 46 SE 26.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland