(no subject)

[endlessrarities]

It's time for Castle of the Month now, and there can only be contender for February's title - the Tower of Caldwell in East Renfrewshire.

As I mentioned in my previous post, this little tower is a bit of a mystery.  It's the seat of the Mures of Caldwell, and I know it extremely well because I featured a fictional interpretation of it, or its predecessor, in my historical novel.

Now, the Mures of Caldwell go back a long way, and it seems extremely likely that there was once a fairly substantial medieval castle somewhere in the  vicnity.  This little number is not it:-

 

And while I once belonged to the contingent who thought that this structure was built on the former site of a corner turret of the earlier castle, I'm now not remotely convinced... 

The original features include gunloops, and this would imply an origin in the 16th century.  But the whole structure has been heavily rebuilt over the past three or four hundred years.  Historical sources record that the Mures had to forfeit their property in the mid 17th century, and one of their first actions on recovering the estate towards the end of the 17th century was to restore the ruins of the Tower of Caldwell.  The crenellations on the parapet are, however, likely to be the result of a 19th century attempt to make the place look more castellated and 'Gothick'.

The function of the Tower of Caldwell is unclear.  As it survives today, it's far too small to function as a domestic structure for your average late medieval/early modern clan chief.  There's no kitchen to speak of, there's no garderobes (i.e. toilets) and to put it bluntly, it's really not the kind of place that's going to impress the neighbours (and there were some pretty important neighbours...)  A hunting lodge, perhaps?  It seems a bit too Spartan and austere even for that.

So even after some more investigations, the Tower of Caldwell must remain a mystery, I'm afraid.  But it remains a very striking landmark which can be seen from the road that runs past Uplawmoor, and it's a telly star  - if you ever get a chance to watch the series 'Restoration Man', keep an eye open for it, and console yourselves with the knowledge that work is progressing, and the Tower of Caldwell is now in the process of restoration.
 

 

Comments

[technophobe1975.livejournal.com]

I reckon that it is just one turret of a HUUUUGE castle buried under the hill!

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

That's just what I thought. But my colleague's been monitoring trial trenches in the vicinity, and there's absolutely no sign of any larger structure. And you'd expect at least a robber trench, even if the walls are all gone.

Ah well, back to the drawing board, I suppose...

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Is this the one where the owners had an architect in Essex, who had never seen the place, produce plans after plans after plans, and Historic Scotland kept turning them down without telling anybody why?

It seems like they didn't want any extension built next to the castle, not even in glass, but the interior isn't really large enough to make a splendid manor house out of.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

The very one. You'll be pleased to hear that all's well that ends well. Everyone has reached an amicable agreement, and an extension has been designed that all parties are satisfied with.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

It definitely doesn't look big enough for a proper castle. I think even our tiniest local castle (Dolwyddelan) is bigger than that.

It may just be the darkness of the photo, but it doesn't seem to grow out of the rock like the castles I'm familiar with. It's sort of plonked in the grass. And if it were the one remaining tower of something larger, there would be traces. We used to keep our dustbins in a castle tower when we were wardens of the Youth Hostel in Crickhowell. The rest of the castle was a little distance away in the park and the hostel building was built over an old medieval cellar, which meant that the cellar had a cellar!

It's still a splendid tower though and must have an interesting history, even if it doesn't date back to the Middle Ages.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Pretty!

Seriously, you couldn't swing a medieval cat in it. Each room measures roughly 4.7 x 3.5 metres (I measured them myself) which is just way too small for anyone to live.

And yes, it does look as if it's 'plonked'...

[mirrordreams.livejournal.com]

Interesting!

My most recently visited favourite castle was one of the small tower castles dotted in the Snowdon mountains. The views were stunning and it was a very practical castle.
I lived right next to castle ruins for 5 years (Aberystwyth) ans bizarrely never thought to take photos... Hmm. Must correct that!

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I particularly liked the one in Llanberis (I won't embarrass my Welsh ancestors by TRYING to spell it...) And Criccieth...

I've never seen the ruins in Aberystwyth...

[bellakara.livejournal.com]

Wonder what the original architect and builders would have made of the digger?

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

No doubt they'd have armour-plated it and used it to annoy the beighbours...

[red-trillium.livejournal.com]

Perhaps a messenger's or guard outpost? Nothing too fancy but something defendable while others ride off to warn of invaders? Or to hold prisoners on their transport to/from the place they'd tried? No kitchen or toilet bespeaks of a temporary lodging but the walls are obviously permanent.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Your guess is as good as mine!!