Kilmahew Castle

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Kilmahew Castle is a ruined castle located just north of Cardross, in the council area of Argyll and Bute. Kilmahew is named for its patron saint, Mochta (Mahew).

[edit] History

Kilmahew castle was built upon the lands granted to the Napiers by Malcolm, the Earl of Lennox around the year 1290. The castle itself was built sometime in the 16th century by the Napier family, who owned it for the next 18 generations. The Napiers who owned Kilmahew are notable for being the progenitors of most of the Napiers in North America, as well as some of their members who had notable contributions in the field of engineering, such as Robert Napier, the "Father of Clyde Shipbuilding," and David, James and Montague Napier, who owned the engineering company of Napier & Son.

The estate was inherited by George Maxwell of Newark and Tealing (1678-1744) in 1694, when he assumed the name of his maternal grandfather, John Napier of Kilmahew. The estate was sold in 1820 in repayment of gambling debts.

The ruins are currently owned by the catholic church.

[edit] Design

The castle was a 16th century tower house. Some obvious gothic modifications were done during the 19th century by the catholic church.

[edit] External Links

a site with some pictures of the ruin