Lands of Elliston

Last updated

Lands of Elliston
Howwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland
UK grid reference NS392598
Elliston Castle - geograph.org.uk - 613195.jpg
The remains of Elliston Castle
Scotland relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Lands of Elliston
Coordinates 55°48′19″N4°34′03″W / 55.80522°N 4.567575°W / 55.80522; -4.567575 Coordinates: 55°48′19″N4°34′03″W / 55.80522°N 4.567575°W / 55.80522; -4.567575
Grid reference NS392598
TypeTower Castle
Site information
OwnerPrivate
Open to
the public		No
ConditionRuined
Site history
Built15th century [1]
Built bySempill family [1]
MaterialsStone

The lands of Elliston, previously Elliotston [1] or Eliotstoun [2] or Elliestoun [3] in the Parish of Lochwinnoch were part of the holdings of the Barony of Elliston, later a part of the Castle Semple barony and estates. The ruins of the castle lie a short distance from Howwood in Renfrewshire in a private garden on a minor road between the A737 and the B776. The name may have derived from earlier holders of the lands, however the Sempill family held them since at least 1220. The castle was abandoned circa 1550 when John Sempill, 1st Lord Sempill moved to a new castle at Castleton which he renamed Castle Semple ( NS 377602 ). [1]

Contents

The History of the Lands of Elliston

In 1540 the lands of ''Castleton, Eliotstoun, Schutirflat, Nethir-Pennell, Hairstontoun, Lavane, Bargane and Lecheland'' were incorporated into the new Barony of Semple, together with other lands in Lanark and Ayr. The new barony was held by William, Lord Sempill and the principal dwelling or messuage was Castle Semple. [4] Most of the lands within the parish of Lochwinnoch were once held by the Semples of Elliston. [5]

In 1505 James IV of Scotland visited John Sempill's at Elliston his collegiate church at Castle Semple to which he gave an offering of 14 shillings. [6]

The Lairds

Memorial to the McDowalls of Garthland and Castle Semple. MacDowalls of Garthland and Castle Semple - family memorial.JPG
Memorial to the McDowalls of Garthland and Castle Semple.

The family have a number of recorded variations in their surname, including Sempill, Semphill, Sempil, Sempel and Semple. In about 1220 Robert Sempill, seneschal to the Barony of Renfrew, [7] held 'Elziotstoun' from the high-steward of Scotland and sometime prior to 1309, a Robert Sempill of 'Elziotstoun' is recorded. [8] Sir William Sempill in 1474 held the baronies of Elliston and Castleton, as did John, the first Lord Sempill in 1505. [2] In 1513, John, the first Lord Sempill, was killed at the Battle of Flodden. [1] In 1727 Hugh Sempill, 12th Lord Sempill, sold these lands to Colonel William McDowall of Garthland in whose family the lands remained until 1818, at which point John Harvey, Esquire, of Jamaica purchased the estate. [4]

The Sempills of Elliston were Hereditary Sheriffs of Renfrewshire and also Hereditary Baillies of Paisley. The family's arms were Argent, a chevron chequy Gules and Argent between three hunting horns Sable stringed Gules . [9]

Marjory Bruce

Marjory Bruce Memorial Cairn. The Princess Marjorie Bruce Memorial Cairn, Gallowhill. Paisley.jpg
Marjory Bruce Memorial Cairn.

An interesting story is told of how the Sempill's came to hold the 'Lands of Sempill' that circa 1316 involves Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce and her son, Robert II  : - "In this shire, at a part called the Knok, on Greiff near Ranfrow, was King Robert, called Blear-eye, cutted out of his mother's womb by Sir John Forrester of Elliestoun (who being hazarded on extremity to use that remedy to preserve the child's life, the Queen having there taken her child ill, being on the fields and dying, the child being quick in her belly) who before that was reputed a simple man – from whence the House of Sempill and Lords thereof have their name, and a part of their estate." [10]

The Lands of Knock lie near Gallowhill between Paisley and Renfrew. A memorial cairn now stands on the spot where the heavily pregnant Princess Marjory, wife of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, is said in some accounts to have fallen from her horse and broken her neck.

Elliston Castle

The coat of arms of Lord Sempill. Lord Sempill arms.svg
The coat of arms of Lord Sempill.

Elliston Castle or tower [11] was a late medieval tower house with an attached courtyard which was probably abandoned after the Sempills moved to Castle Semple, [3] the new site previously being called Castleton, lying in the barony of that name. In 1735 the old castle was partly demolished. [12] In 1905 the old castle is recorded as still standing, but in exceedingly ruinous condition. [5] Further demolition took place in 1950 due to the dangerous condition of the castle. [3]

Elliston Castle measured 42 ft by 33 ft, with end walls around 9 ft thick and side walls around 6 ft thick. Built before the regular use of cannon, gun-ports have been discovered in the walls. The walls were still 20 ft to 30 ft high in 1836, however by 1856 the north and south walls stood only stood at that height. Low courtyard walls of a rectangular shape were present in 1856. The castle's tower was rectangular, built with rough coursed masonry. [13] A vaulted basement existed and in the thickened south-eastern wall a stairway and mural chamber may have existed. The end walls probably had opposing arched windows. [3]

Elliston Bridge stands nearby, below the old Elliston Sawmill which was served by a leat with a sluice located at Linnister Farm on the Elliston Burn. Howwood Parish Church was once known as Elliston Chapel. [14]

Communications

Ruins of Linnister Farm, latterly used as weaver's cottage. Linnister Farm.jpg
Ruins of Linnister Farm, latterly used as weaver's cottage.
The old Paisley to Beith Road near the site of Linnister Farm. Linnister Farm entrance.jpg
The old Paisley to Beith Road near the site of Linnister Farm.

The tower of Elliston guarded the important land route to the south at a time when no road existed closer to Lochwinnoch. This route was the Beith to Paisley Road as clearly marked on Roy's 1747 map that ran up from Beith, ran near Beltree farm passed Earlston Farm and the demolished Ward House through the Linnister Glen and the ruined Linnister Farm to cross the Elliston Burn. The old road continued up the valley side to run past the castle, then across the neighbouring fields before entering via Low Howwood along the remaining section of the road that then runs passed Glenfall House (Aitkins whinstone Quarry site), originally continuing on to George Street across land now built on; George Street has therefore become a cul-de-sac. [15]

Literature

The author Louise Turner has written a historical novel 'Fire and Sword' involving Sir John Sempill of Ellestoun, son of Sir Thomas, the Sheriff of Renfrew who died along with King James III at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. [16]

House

In the United States, Eliestoun House was completed in 1890 by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr. The house is on the grounds of Principia College and named after "'Elliestoun Tower' on Castle Semple Loch". Henry Turner and his wife Ada Ames had the house built. Ada is a descendant of James Semple who is the founder of Elsah, Illinois. [17] [18]

Eliestoun House was designed by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr. It was completed in 1890 and is on the Principia College campus. Photographed in 2014. Eliestoun building.jpg
Eliestoun House was designed by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr. It was completed in 1890 and is on the Principia College campus. Photographed in 2014.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renfrewshire</span> Council area of Scotland

Renfrewshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lochwinnoch</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Lochwinnoch is a village in the council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Lying on the banks of Castle Semple Loch and the River Calder, Lochwinnoch is chiefly a residential dormitory village serving nearby urban centres such as Glasgow and Paisley. Its population in 2001 was 2628.

Howwood is a village in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is between Johnstone and Lochwinnoch, just off the A737 dual carriageway between the nearby town of Paisley and the Ayrshire border. It is served by Howwood railway station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Semple Loch</span> Body of water

Castle Semple Loch is a 1.5-mile-long (2.5 km) inland freshwater loch at Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Originally part of an estate of the same name, it is now administered by Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park as a watersports centre. An RSPB bird sanctuary is located on the loch's southern shore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renfrewshire (historic)</span> Historic county and lieutenancy area of western Scotland

Renfrewshire or the County of Renfrew is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It contains the local government council areas of Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, as well as parts of Glasgow and is occasionally named Greater Renfrewshire to distinguish the county from the modern council area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Sempill</span> Lowland Scottish clan

Clan Sempill is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park</span>

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is the collective name for areas of countryside set aside for conservation and recreation on the South Clyde estuary in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Semple</span>

Castle Semple is a former mansion house located in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is situated near the eastern end of Castle Semple Loch, within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hill of Beith Castle</span>

The old Barony and castle, fortalice, or tower house of Hill of Beith lay in the feudal Regality of Kilwinning, within the Baillerie of Cunninghame, and the Sherrifdom of Ayr, now the Parish of Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barr Castle</span> Late medieval tower house in Scotland

Barr Castle is a late medieval tower house. It can be seen today as a ruin on a low ridge to the south of the village of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auchenbathie Tower</span>

Auchenbathie, Auchinbathie Tower or rarely Barcraigs Tower is a ruined fortification, a tower house, once held by the Wallace Clan of Elderslie, situated in Renfrewshire, Parish of Lochwinnoch, Scotland. The spelling used varies greatly and "Auchenbathie" will be used here as the standard spelling. The pronunciation locally is "Auchenbothy", the same as a Victorian mansion in Kilmacolm; no connection is known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Semple Church</span>

Castle Semple Collegiate Church is located in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is situated near the eastern end of Castle Semple Loch, within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, and 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Howwood on the B787, then on to the B776. The late Gothic church is under the protection of Historic Environment Scotland as a Scheduled monument.

Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord Sempill was a Scottish lord of Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walls Loch</span> Body of water

Walls Loch is situated at a height of 560 feet, below the Walls Hill Iron Age fort and to the east of Broadfield Hill on the lands of North Castlewalls Farm, Whittliemuir, Howwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowden Hall, East Renfrewshire</span>

Cowden Hall, Cowdon Hall or Cowdenhall is an example of a laird's hall-house with a farmstead dating from more peaceful times in the seventeenth century when gun loops, thick defensive walls and well defended entrances were no longer essential and larger windows could be utilised. Eighteenth century additions included an outshot with a cruck roof. Cowden is located in an elevated position overlooking the Neilston Gap and the Levern Water on the lands of the old Barony of Cowden near Neilston in East Renfrewshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duchal Castle</span>

The ruins of the large courtyard style Duchal Castle lie circa 1.5 miles south-west of Kilmacolm in the Inverclyde council area and the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The castle stands at the bottom of the valley of the River Gryfe on a peninsula created by the Blacketty and Green Waters which have their confluence beyond the two deep gorges.

The ruins of The Peel of Castle Semple or the Castle Semple Loch Peel Tower, once designated in Scottish Reformation times as the Defender of the Faith lie in Castle Semple Loch, Parish of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The castle stands on a rocky islet which due to drainage works and farming activities has now become linked to the shoreline through a curved earthen embankment. Semple is sometimes written as 'Sempill'; however, for consistency the more commonly found spelling will be used here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Inch</span> Small Scottish island

King's Inch and the much smaller Sand Inch were islands lying in the estuarine waters of the River Clyde close to Renfrew in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Due to dredging and a change of the course of the main current of the River Clyde, silting, etc. it has become part of the southern, Renfrewshire side, of the river bank and is now built over.

John Sempill was a Scottish courtier and husband of Mary Livingston, one of the Four Maries who grew up with Mary, Queen of Scots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wards of Renfrewshire</span>

Renfrewshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, formally established in 1996 to succeed the Renfrew district within the Strathclyde region, both of which were abolished; the headquarters are at Paisley.

References

Notes;

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Coventry, Page 521
  2. 1 2 Metcalfe, Page 422
  3. 1 2 3 4 Mason, Page 131
  4. 1 2 Metcalfe, Page 423
  5. 1 2 Metcalfe, Page 425
  6. ↑ Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol.3 (1901), p.xviii, 62
  7. ↑ Mason, Page 132
  8. ↑ Gazetteers of Scotland Retrieved : 2013-07-06
  9. ↑ The Heraldry Society of Scotland Archived 2006-12-08 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved : 2013-07-06
  10. ↑ Geograph - The Marjory Bruce Cairn
  11. ↑ Roy's Map Retrieved : 2013-07-06
  12. ↑ Scottish Castles Association Retrieved : 2013-07-06
  13. ↑ RCAHMS Retrieved : 2013-07-06
  14. ↑ Howwood - Renfrewshire Council Retrieved : 2013-07-06
  15. ↑ William Roy's Map Retrieved : 2013-07-07
  16. ↑ "The Real Story Behind Fire & Sword".
  17. ↑ Hosmer Jr., Charles (Spring 2003). "ELIESTOUN of the Turners". Elsah History. Spring 2003 (85). Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "History of Eliestoun" . Retrieved 7 February 2022.

Sources;

  1. Coventry, Martin (2010). Castles of the Clans. Musselburgh : Goblinshead. ISBN   1-899874-36-4.
  2. Mason, Gordon W. (2013). The Castles of Glasgow And The Clyde. Musselburgh : Goblinshead. ISBN   9781899874590.
  3. Metcalfe, William H. (1905). A History of the County of Renfrew. Paisley : Alexander Gardner.
  4. Turner, Louise (2013). Fire and Sword. Hadley Rile Books. ISBN   978-0-9892631-3-9.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.