Crookston Castle

Crookston Castle dates back to ancient times, the first official mention of it dates back to 1180, when it was built by Norman knight Robert de Croc, the owner of these lands. The first version of the castle was wooden, and before it there were some buildings on this place, the remains of which were found by archaeologists. It was by the name of Kroka that the castle and chapel were later named, practically not preserved to this day.

The castle acquired its current structure around 1400, when the new owners, relatives of the royal dynasty of Stuarts, built a stone building on the site of a wooden building. It resisted numerous sieges, weather events and changes of owners, retaining its impressive shape. Crookston Castle, or rather its noble ruins, rises on a high hill 5 km east of the city of Paisley and about 6.5 km south of Glasgow. A deep moat, reliably protecting the castle from sieges, has survived to this day.

The castle suffered the greatest damage during the siege in 1489, when it was taken by James IV. The famous Mons Meg gun almost shattered its entire western part, which led to the surrender. Many reconstructions of the castle were carried out, but the western watchtower never returned to its former form. But Crookston Castle has not only a military, but also a romantic side: it is very closely associated with the brilliant and tragic fate of Queen Mary Stuart.