Mearns Castle

Mearns Castle is a ruined castle in the Scottish city of Newton Mearns in the East Renfrewshire unitary authority. It lies on the western edge of the city. 1971 Mearns Castle was inducted into the Scottish lists of monuments in the highest category A.

History

Mearns Castle was probably built in 1449 by members of the Clan Maxwell. With the south on the Solway Firth located Caerlaverock Castle of the Knights Maxwell had one of the most important border fortresses of Scotland, so it was not their main castle at Mearns Castle. At the time of the Covenanters, the castle housed a garrison of dragoons, who controlled the area. The last residents of Mearns Castle was George of Nether Pollok, who gave the building in the 17th century. In 1971 the ruins to the modern building of Maxwell Mearns Parish Church was built, but not used.

Description

The three-story castle has a floor area of ​​about 9 m × 13 m and has a height of about 12 m. It was once surrounded by a moat and accessible only via a drawbridge. Inside, the individual floors are accessible via a spiral staircase. The building ends with a crenellated parapet. Today, it has a modern concrete roof. 2008 Mearns Castle was included in the Scottish register of listed buildings at risk. Last 2010, the buildings were classified as poor and Mearns Castle as endangered. Large parts of the masonry are moist and large areas covered with moss. By vegetation parts of the mortar were destroyed.