Cruixtoun Castle

Cruixtoun Castle is a ruint medieval castle in the Powk pairt o Glesga, Scotland. It is situatit some five mile (aicht kilometre) sooth-wast o the ceetie centre, on a hill owerleukin the Levern Water, juist afore its confluence wi the White Cairt Water. Cruixtoun Castle wis built bi the Stuarts o Dernly aroond 1400, and is set inby yirdwarks biggit in the 12th century. Ance the steid o the earls an dukes o Lennox, the castle wis muckle repait efter a siege in 1544, an it is the anely stannin medieval castle in Glesga. History Cruixtoun is surroondit bi a defensive ring-ditch that gangs back tae the 12th century whan Sir Rabert de Croc, wha gied his name an aa tae the tounlet o Cruixtoun, biggit a wuid an earth castle. Orrals o a chaipel foondit bi de Croc in 1180 hae been liftit. Evidence o an e'en erlier fortification on the same place haes been foond an aa. The leids o Cruixtoun war bocht bi Sir Alan Stuart in 1330, and gied tae Sir John Stuart o Dernly, in 1361. The Dernly Stuarts replacit the erlier castle wi the noo stane biggin aroon 1400. In 1489, the Stuart Earl o Lennox rebellt againt James IV. James respondit bi bringin’ the cannoun Mons Meg frae Edinburgh an bombardin’ the castle, juist aboot ruinin its waster en’ an makin sure o a swift surrender. On 3 Aprile 1544, the castle wis siegit and taen bi the Earl o Arran an Cardinal Beaton, while the than Earl o Lennox wis protectin’ Glesga Castle. At this time, Cruixtoun wis regartit as the maist important hoose o the earls o Lennox. Regent Arran pit five gunners in the castle in Mey 1544. Maist famed o the Dernly Stuarts wis Henry Stuart, Lord Dernly, wha wis seicont man tae Mary, Queen o Scots. It micht hae been at Cruixtoun that the pair war betrothed, beneath a yew tree. The yew wis fellit in 1816, an a model o Cruixtoun Castle, nou on display in Powk Hoose, wis carvit frae its wuid. In 1572, Cruixtoun wis gied tae anither Stuart, Charles, the Earl o Lennox. In 1703, the Duke o Lennox selt the castle tae the Duke of Montrose, an it bided the property o the Dukes of Montrose til 1757, whan it wis selt bi William Graham, 2nd Duke o Montrose tae the Maxwells o Powk. Efter mony years o abandonment, the castle wis pairtly mendit bi the Maxwells in 1847, tae honour Queen Victoria's visit tae Glesga. In 1931, Cruxtoun becam the first haudin acquired bi the National Trust for Scotland, haein been presentit bi Sir John Maxwell Stirling-Maxwell, wha wis ane o the Trust's foonder membirs and first Deputy Preses. Throu the Seicont Warld War the north-easter tour wis uised as an aircraft look-oot tour. The day, Cruixtoun Castle is a protectit steid. Its mainteenance is the responsibeelity o Historic Environment Scotland, an the castle is appen tae the public. It is the seicont-auldest biggin in Glesga, efter Glesga Cathedral. References