Crookston Castle Crookston Castle is located in the Pollok area of south - west Glasgow , Scotland . The castle is located some 5 miles ( 8 km ) south - west of the city centre , and 3 miles ( 5 km ) east of Paisley , overlooking the Levern Water , just before its confluence with the White Cart Water . History . Crookston is surrounded by a defensive ring - ditch that dates back to the 12th century when Sir Robert de Croc , who also gave his name to the village of Crookston , built a timber and earth castle . Remains of a chapel founded by de Croc in 1180 have been uncovered . Evidence of an even earlier fortification on the same site has also been found . The lands of Crookston were bought by Sir Alan Stewart in 1330 , and passed to Sir John Stewart of Darnley , in 1361 . The Darnley Stewarts replaced the early castle with the present stone structure around 1400 . In 1489 the Stewart Earl of Lennox rebelled against James IV . James responded by bringing the cannon Mons Meg from Edinburgh , and bombarding the castle , virtually destroying its western end , and ensuring a quick surrender . In 1544 the castle was besieged and taken by the Earl of Arran and Cardinal Beaton , while the then Earl of Lennox was defending Glasgow Castle . At this time , Crookston was regarded as the principal house of the earls of Lennox . Most famous of the Darnley Stewarts was Henry Stuart , Lord Darnley , who was second husband to Mary , Queen of Scots . It may have been at Crookston that the couple were betrothed , under a yew tree . The yew was felled in 1816 , and a model of Crookston Castle , now on display in Pollok House , was carved from its wood . In 1572 , Crookston was granted to another Stewart , Charles , the Earl of Lennox . The castle passed through several owners , until in 1757 it was sold by William Graham , 2nd Duke of Montrose to the Maxwells of Pollok . Following several years of abandonment , the castle was partially restored by the Maxwells in 1847 , to honour Queen Victoria ' s visit to Glasgow . In 1931 , Crookston became the first property acquired by the National Trust for Scotland , having been presented by Sir John Maxwell Stirling - Maxwell , who was one of the Trust ' s founder members and first Vice Presidents . Today , Crookston Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument , and a Category A listed building . Its maintenance is the responsibility of Historic Scotland . Architecture . Crookston Castle sits atop a natural hill , emphasised by the early ring - ditch , which can still be seen . To the north is a steep drop to the Levern Water . The castle has a rectangular main block , which was strengthened by a tower at each corner . This formed an irregular ' X - plan ' shape , an unusual layout also seen at Hermitage Castle . Only the north - east corner tower survives to its former height , as well as the basement of the south - east tower . The two western towers were destroyed in the 15th century and never rebuilt , repairs in the 19th century have obscured even the remains of these . The main body of the castle measures about 19m by 12m , with walls up to 3 . 7m thick , and the north - east tower is around 6m square . The entrance is on the north side , adjacent to the north - east tower , and defended by a portcullis and two doors . A straight mural stair leads up to the right , while ahead is a barrel - vault ed basement with slit windows and a well . The hall is at first - floor level , and was also vaulted , rising to 8 . 3m high . A turnpike stair in the south - east corner gave access to another storey above the hall , as well as upper rooms in the eastern towers . The towers had one room on each floor . In the basement of the north - east tower is a prison only accessible from above , while at the top there is access to the four storeys of the tower , via modern iron ladders , opening onto an impressive view from the roof . The top of the north - east tower , including corbels , was also rebuilt in the 19th century . Verse and fiction . The poets Robert Burns , William Motherwell and Robert Tannahill have all mentioned the castle in their works , while Sir Walter Scott , in his 1820 novel The Abbot , suggested Mary , Queen of Scots , watched the Battle of Langside from beneath its yew tree , although the topography makes this impossible .