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THE STUARTS OF CASTLEMILK AND TORRANCE. JAMES EVERETT MACDONALD STUART-STEVENSON of Castlemilk, Fynnart, and Torrance.
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JAMES EVERETT MACDONALD STUART-STEVENSONof Castlemilk, Fynnart, and Torrance
The Glasgow district of Castlemilk was at one time the country estate of the Stuarts of Castlemilk, who had connections with the ancient royal family of Scotland. The estate was acquired by Glasgow Corporation shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and developed for housing in the mid-1950's.
The map below shows the layout of Castlemilk House and the surrounding woodland, gardens and ancilliary buildings in the 1850's. These features had been developed in the previous century. The Ice House shown on the map was used for the preservation of food. Castlemilk Burn, which rises in the Cathkin Braes, flows through the estate supplying the water for the fish pond. It is crossed by a picturesque stone bridge dating from 1833.
The origins of Castlemilk House, which started out as a fortified tower, are obscured in the distant past. The oldest part of the house had thick walls, small windows, narrow passages and confined staircases, suggesting that its earliest function was as a defensive stronghold.As a country house it was gradually enlarged and improved to provide a luxurious family residence. The mansion was neglected by the Corporation and allowed to fall into a state of disrepair before being abandoned and eventually demolished in the late 1960's.The stables block, which included the estate offices, was added around 1800. Castlemilk Stables, which features a beautiful clock tower, were carefully restored in 2007 to provide modern office space around a central courtyard.
This mansion-house has long been known by the name of Castlemilk. In very early times it was called Cassiltown. The date of its first foundation is hid in the dim and distant past. When, and by whom it was built, it would be difficult, if not impossible, now to say. Like the family then and since holding it, its history runs back into ages that are dark, and of which we have but scant memorial. The construction of the oldest part of the castle clearly shows, from its thick walls, small windows, narrow passages and staircases, that it belongs to an age of trouble and discord. In course, however, and at different and distant periods, it was greatly enlarged and improved; so much so, that now it is one of the handsomest and most comfortable family residences in the county.
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS Amid much that is interesting in its past history, perhaps one fact deserves special notice, viz., that in one of the rooms of the oldest part of the building, Mary Queen of Scots is said to have slept the night before the fatal battle of Langside. The ceiling of this room was originally ornamented with the arms of the Kings of Scotland in the Stuart line, and with the arms of all the crowned heads of Europe with whom the Stuarts were connected. This apartment is still known and labelled as "Queen Mary's Room"; but, unfortunately, during subsequent alterations and repairs, those early blazonings have now totally disappeared. On the property of Castlemilk, and on a spot commanding full view of the southern slopes of Langside, an old hawthorn, still called "Queen Mary's Thorn," is pointed out as the stance from which she beheld the rout of her troops; and farther on to the south-east, in the bosom of the braes, a well still exists, from which she is said to have drank on her way southward. It too bears the name of "Queen Mary's Well."
The site of the castle is a remarkably well chosen one. Though planted at the base of the Castlemilk Braes, still few positions command such a sweep of rich and varied landscape. Close by, the country is gently undulated and richly wooded, and the more distant views are grand and extensive. Standing as it does in the hollow between Ayr and Edinburgh, the two countries intervening are brought easily under the eye; while the northern view, including the Clyde, Glasgow, with its varied industries, &c., &c., is bounded by the bold outlines of the Cowal, Lennox, and the Perthshire ranges. Few places in Scotland are more beautifully planted, or have more natural attractions - none can excel it in range, beauty, and grandeur of outlook. Its immediate surroundings of wood and water, of steep and slope, along with the recent alterations in the garden and grounds, render it altogether one of the finest and most naturally beautiful places in this part of the country. The castle stands in the north-eastern division of the property called by the same name, and is distant from Glasgow about three miles. It forms the largest individual property in the parish of Carmunnock, of which living the proprietor is patron.
The Stuarts of Castlemilk are a very ancient family. The present proprietor, James Stirling Stirling Stuart, is the grand-nephew of the late Lady Anne Stuart of Castlemilk, who was supposed to have been in her day the most direct descendant of the royal line of that name. From the family muniments now carefully compiled and preserved, it appears that towards the close of the thirteenth century, Matthew Stuart of Castlemilk (for at this time the property in Dumfriesshire of the same name was owned by this family), Cassiltown, and Fynnart-Stewart, granted an annuity from his lands in favour of a convent raised in Glasgow by the Black Friars in 1270. And in "Rymer's Foedera Angliae," a very honourable and prominent mention is made of several members of this family in connection with some state arrangements. From this record it clearly appears that they are of the same family as the Stuarts of Darnley, being their descendants in the ninth generation from the first Walter, son of Alan the High Steward.
From the authority referred to above, it appears that in 1398 Sir William Stewart of Castlemilk was given, as one of the sureties on the part of Scotland, for the preservation of the peace of the Western Marches between this country and England during the reign of James I. of Scotland. This same Sir William, along with his elder brother, Sir John Stuart of Darnley, went over to France to the assistance of Charles VII., where they performed many gallant deeds, and rendered such signal service to the King and country that their names are most honourably mentioned in the records of that age. The Monarch, in appreciation of such distinguished services, made grant to Sir John of the lordship and estate of Aubigny in France, besides conferring on him many other marks of distinction.
STUART HOUSE IN AUBIGNY SUR NERE`, FRANCE“La Cité des Stuarts”
Both brothers - Sir John Stuart of Darnley and Sir William Stuart of Castlemilk - remaining true to the flag under which they enlisted, perished on the field of battle in February 1429, during the famous Siege of Orleans. Without following in close detail the fortunes of this family during the centuries succeeding, it may perhaps be sufficient here to state that they have during these times allied themselves by marriage to many of the best families of the land, and borne part in many transactions bearing intimately on the history of their times.
CHATEAU DE LA VERRERIE BETWEEN THE SANCERRE AND LOIRE VALLEYS-A STUART HOLDING AFTER MILITARY SERVICE TO THE KING OF FRANCE
From and after the date referred to above, till the year 1759, the property of Castlemilk in Dumfriesshire and Cassiltown in Lanarkshire were held by this family. In course, however, the former came to be alienated, being made over to John, Lord Maxwell. The title, however, was transferred to the property in Lanarkshire, and has ever since been known by this name, which property has been held, in unbroken succession, by the same family for upwards of six centuries. Like many old families, the Stuarts of Castlemilk have a burying-place of their own. Attached to the church of Carmunnock is a vault, in which the members of this family have been interred for upwards of three hundred years.
Carmunnock Parish “Church of the Braes”The Stuart Burial Vault is the small door on the left
James, the great-grandson of William Crawfurd Stirling Stuart (the last Laird of Castlemilk), gives a speech and is honored with a picture of the clock tower on opening day of the newly restored stables
PRINCE CHARLES VISITS THE CASTLEMILK STABLES • Royal Visit • His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales toured this stunning building, saved from demolition as a ruin and transformed into a thriving community facility after a 10 year battle by campaigners and local residents . During his tour of the building, Prince Charles met some of the architects and artisans who worked on the project . He also planted an apple tree in the children's orchard and viewed a photographic exhibition.
The Battle of Orleans Castlemilk Fireplace Once dominating the main hall of Castlemilk House and one of the few treasures saved when the house was demolished in 1969, the fireplace now takes pride of place in the main foyer of the Stables. An outstanding piece of 19th century workmanship, of great historical significance, it depicts the Siege of Orleans in 1429 where Sir William Stewart (Stuart) of Castlemilk and his brother, Sir John, both died in the service of the Dauphin who later became King Charles VII of France. Joan of Arc's victory at Orleans was her first battle within three months of her initial meeting with the Dauphin and is regarded as one of the decisive battles of world history. Carvings of the Lennox Coat-of Arms are incorporated on the fireplace to mark the connection with Mary, Queen of Scots when she married her second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.
James in the Orleans Cathedral where the brothers William Stuart of Castlemilk and John Stuart of Darnley were interred after the Battle of Orleans in 1429
Torrance Castle is a sprawling mansion which preserves an altered keep possibly of 14th century origins at it’s eastern end. The first residence on this estate was a motte a little to the west of the house, known as the Tor. A later stone castle may have occupied either of the above sites, or more likely a rectangular earthwork with ditch and masonry remains in the northern corner of the park at NS653531.
This castle was burnt by a contingent of English troops sent by Elizabeth 1st of England to assist in the Regent Moray’s post Langside destructive raid across the region on Hamilton properties. The present house was built as a result. The old part of the present building is essentially a 16th century L-Plan tower house of four storeys and a garret with a tall square stair tower within the re-entrant. This contains a turnpike stair to all floors and a small room on each floor at the east side of the tower. Many alterations have taken place, including enlargement of the windows. This on the southern face gives the building a Georgian feel and appears similar to Auldhouse, although on a larger scale.A porch has also been added at the main door, and an arched gateway. The new main door has the armorial stone removed from Mains Castle, which still supports the Royal Arms of Scotland.Originally the property of the Torrance family, it passed by marriage to Thomas Hamilton prior to 1465. By the 1650’s, James Hamilton of Torrance was sued for a variety of debts. The debts were bought up by James Stuart, 2nd son of the Laird of Castlemilk. Stuart foreclosed in 1652, and set up home at Torrance. The debts of their descendants, forced the family to relinquish the estate in 1947.Considered then for demolition, but used to house the offices of the Development Agency of the new town, the mansion is now in private ownership and has been refurbished. An east wing which provided symmetry with that to the west, was destroyed by fire and demolished in 1965, an event which led to the Development Agency vacating the building.
THE END??? JAMES CONTINUES TO PROUDLY KEEP THE FAMILY HERITAGE ALIVE. HIS GRANDMOTHER, HELEN CONSTANCE STUART STEVENSON, WAS AN AVID HISTORIAN WHO METICULOUSLY RESEARCHED, RECORDED, AND ARCHIVED FAMILY HISTORY. SHE FOSTERED “AULD ALLIANCES”, SUCH AS THE FAMILY CONNECTION WITH THE HOUSES OF LENNOX AND MAITLAND, AND ENCOURAGED THE SCOTTISH TOWN OF HADDINGTON TO FORM A TWINNING ASSOCIATION WITH AUBIGNY IN FRANCE. JAMES HAS HIS GRANDMOTHER’S RECORDS AND A WILL TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT THE STUARTS OF CASTLEMILK DO, INDEED, STILL EXIST. HIS CHLDREN, JESSICA ANNE AND JAMES STIRLING WILL CONTINUE THE LINE AND THE STORY…
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • MUCH GRATITUDE GOES OUT TO ANDY MILLER, SAVIOR OF THE FIREPLACE, CASTLEMILK ADVOCATE, AND SO MUCH MORE. • WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE FOUND SUSAN CASEY ON MYSPACE! HER PRIDE IN THE CASTLEMILK AREA LED TO INCREDIBLE RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE. • BLESS THE GLASGOW BUILDING PRESERVATION TRUST AND ANN MCQUERY WHO WORKED SO TIRELESSLY TO RESTORE THE CASTLEMILK STABLES. • AND MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO GRANNIE FOR TEACHING ME WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND LEAVING ALL THE CRUMBS OF GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION THAT ALLOWED ME TO PIECE TOGETHER THE WONDERFUL LEGACY THAT IS MY FAMILY.
