Old Photographs Newark Castle Port Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of Newark Castle in Port Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland. This Scottish castle was built in 1478 by George Maxwell when he inherited the Barony of Finlanstone or Finlaystone in the parish of Kilmacolm. The original castle had a tower house within a walled enclosure or barmkin entered through a large gatehouse. All that remains of the outer defensive wall is from one of the original corner towers. In the late 16th century the castle was inherited by Sir Patrick Maxwell, a powerful friend of king James VI of Scotland who was notorious for murdering two members of a rival family and beating his wife who left him after having 16 children. In 1597 Sir Patrick expanded the building, constructing a new north range replacing the earlier hall in the form of a three storey Renaissance mansion. In 1668 the Glasgow authorities purchased 18 acres of land around Newark Castle from Sir George Maxwell who was then the laird, and developed the harbour into what they called " Port Glasgow ". The last Maxwell died in 1694 and the castle had a series of non-resident owners. An early tenant was a rope maker called John Orr who also dealt in wild animals such as big cats and bears which he obtained from ships visiting the Clyde and often housed in the castle cellars.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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