skip to main content
Menu
  • Blog
    • Art & design
    • Castles
    • Cycling
    • Edinburgh
    • Edinburgh Festival
    • Food & drink
    • General
    • History
    • Music
    • Sport
    • Walking
    • Whisky
    • Wildlife
  • Castles
    • Glossary
    • Mottes
    • Stay in a castle
    • Castle blog posts
    • Alphabetical list of castles
    • Castles divided by county
    • Photos of castles
    • Castles we've visited
  • History
    • Castles
    • Ancient history
      • barrows
      • brochs
      • cairns
      • caves
      • chambered cairns
      • cists
      • crannogs
      • cursus monuments
      • forts
      • henges
      • rock art
      • sacred sites
      • souterrains
      • standing stones
      • stone circles
    • Pictish history
      • Pictish stones
      • Pictish sites
      • Pictish placenames
    • Clans
      • Surnames
      • Trace your ancestors
      • Tartan
    • Trace your ancestors
  • Culture
    • Music
      • Bands & musicians
      • Music links
    • Film
    • Television
    • Placenames
      • Pictish placenames
  • Eat
  • Drink
    • Scottish beer
    • Scottish gin
    • Scottish vodka
  • Stay
  • Travel guide
    • City guides
    • Car hire
    • Airports
  • Walking
    • Munros
    • West Highland Way
  • Photos
    • ancient sites
      • Dark Age sites
      • megalithic sites
      • other carved stones
      • Pictish sites
      • Roman sites
    • buildings
    • miscellaneous
    • places in Scotland
  • Offers
  • Home
  • history
  • castles

Carnwath House


Carnwath House was an early 19th century mansion built around a much older core, which stood on the site of what is now Carnwath Golf Club’s clubhouse.

The original castle at Carnwath was built by the Somerville family, and dated back to at least the 15th century. The Somervilles came to this area of Lanarkshire in the 12th century, and were descended from Sir Gualter de Somerville, a Norman knight who arrived in England with William the Conqueror in 1066. Sir Gualter’s second son, William de Somerville, travelled to Scotland with David I in 1107, and some time after was granted the lands of Carnwath along with the title Lord Carnwath.

Initially they built Carnwath motte, before focusing their attention on one of their other properties nearby, Couthalley Castle, possibly in the 14th century.

Whether or not they lived continuously at Carnwath during this period, or moved permanently for some time to Couthalley Castle, is unknown. However on the Ordnance Survey map of 1858, published in 1864, the date 1320 is given for Carnwath House.

map of Carnwath House

Lanark Sheet XXVI.7 (Carnwath), 25inch 1st edition
Ordnance Survey, 1864

In 1381 at a council at Jedburgh, presided over by Sir Robert Ker of Cessford, Sir John Somerville of Linton was recognised as heir to his father, Walter Somerville, in the baronies of Linton and Carnwath.

John, Baron of Carnwath, was invited to dinner in April 1390 by his “cousin”, Sir Robert Ker, at Cessford Castle while he was in the area arranging his affairs regarding his neighbouring barony of Lintoune. During the dinner they learned of the death of Robert II.

Little is known about the earliest incarnation of the castle at Carnwath, and not much more is known about what it developed into either. When inspected by the Ordnance Survey in 1968, some of the harling had fallen from the walls of the south-east wing, which revealed rubble masonry and 16th or 17th century blocked windows with carved mouldings.

Looking at the plan of Carnwath House on the Ordnance Survey map above, and considering that the south-east wing was old, it seems possible that by the 16th century Carnwath took the form of an L-plan tower house.

The main wing was aligned approximately north to south, with the secondary wing extending west from the north end of the main block. Latterly two storeys in height with Georgian or Victorian windows, it probably originally consisted of three shorter storeys. What looks like a possible stair tower can be seen within the re-entrant angle.

It seems that not much more is known about the structure. However there are references to Carnwath House over the centuries. Gilbert, the 8th Lord Somerville, is said to have entertained James VI with such extravagance at Couthalley Castle that he was forced to sell the Carnwath estates in 1603 to John Erskine, the 19th Earl of Mar.

The Earl of Mar subsequently sold the estate to Sir Robert Dalzell (later to become Lord Dalzell) in 1630. His son, also Robert, the 2nd Lord Dalzell, was created the 1st Earl of Carnwath in 1639.

Judging by old photographs of Carnwath House, a new long two storey wing was probably added in the 17th century, extending south from the west end of the secondary wing, forming a U-plan. With small and narrow windows, it certainly looks 17th century stylistically, or possibly even 16th century.

In 1651 Carnwath House seems to have been occupied by Cromwell’s English Parliamentarians under. It must have been a relatively short occupation, as later the same year, following the Battle of Inverkeithing, Charles II and his supporters headed south for England, and Charles is said to have spent the night at Carnwath House.

The Carnwath estate was sold in 1681 to Sir George Lockhart, Lord Advocate and the second son Sir James Lockhart of Lee. Carnwath House was never used as a main residence by the Lockharts, as they remained at their grander property of Lee Castle. Instead they occasionally used it as a hunting seat.

The Lockharts were Jacobites, and following the retreat from Derby Bonnie Prince Charlie had his headquarters at Carnwath for a short time. The exact rooms in Carnwath House which he occupied were apparently still known in the mid-19th century.

Around 1820 a new two storey wing was added to the north end of the house, with a new entrance on the north side, and a full height bow window on the west side. By the 1860s Carnwath House was occupied by the factor of the Lee and Carnwath estates.

The estate passed through the Lockhart family to Sir Simon Macdonald Lockhart of Lee, 5th Baronet. With their main residence continuing to be Lee Castle, Carnwath House served as the clubhouse for Carnwath Golf Club, founded in 1907 and opened by Sir Simon’s wife Lady Lockhart on the 19th of June. Sir Simon became Honorary President of the club until his death in 1919.

In 1970 Carnwath House was demolished, and replaced with a new clubhouse, a soulless ’70s box. Only the 19th century gateposts of the old house survive.

Carnwath House

stay in a castle
  • advertisement
  • advertisement

Alternative names for Carnwath House

House of Carnwath

Clans associated with Carnwath House

Somerville

Surnames associated with Carnwath House

Somerville

Where is Carnwath House?

Carnwath House is in the parish of Carnwath and the county of Lanarkshire.

Grid reference:NS 9756 4645

Lat / long:55.70064500,-3.63153430

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Carnwath House

OS map 343
Motherwell & Coatbridge (Whitburn & Carluke)
OS Explorer map 343


  • advertisement

Directions to Carnwath House

Enter a starting point

  • advertisement
  • advertisement

Weather at Carnwath House

7°C
max 8°C / min 7°C
32km/h WSW
1015mb
93%
100%
08:10 16:44

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Carnwath at 01:34

References (books)

Memorie of the Somervilles (Volume 1)
James Somerville
Edinburgh, 1815
The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland Volume 3
David MacGibbon
Edinburgh, 1889
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015
The Fortified House in Scotland - Volume III
Nigel Tranter
Edinburgh, 1965
The History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and adjacent districts, Volume 3
Alexander Jeffrey
Edinburgh, 1855
The upper ward of Lanarkshire described and delineated (Volume 2)
George Vere Irving
Glasgow, 1864

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Carnwath House

Carnwath motte

0.2km away

Carlindean (possible) (site of)

1.7km away

Couthalley Castle

1.8km away

Spittal (possible) (site of)

1.9km away

Carnwath Mill

2.4km away

Muirhouse of Libberton (site of)

3.2km away

Kersewell (site of)

3.3km away

Carstairs Castle (site of)

3.6km away

Eastshield Tower

3.9km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Carnwath House

Calla broch

2.8km away

Wester Yardhouses souterrain

5.2km away

Kirk Hill (possible) fort

8.0km away

Quothquan Law fort

8.1km away

West Lindsaylands cursus

10.8km away

Harestanes stone circle

15.0km away

Whitslade souterrain

18.3km away

Harehill Knowe cairn

18.4km away

Drumelzier Haugh souterrain

19.7km away
more ancient sites....
  • Ancestry advert

Pictish stones near Carnwath House

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

38.6km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

39.0km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

39.0km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

46.8km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

54.9km away

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

56.1km away

Old Kilmadock 2 Class I symbol stone

62.1km away

Old Kilmadock 1 Class II symbol stone

62.1km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

62.4km away
more Pictish stones....
  • advertisement
  • advertisement

Pictish sites near Carnwath House

Todholes (possible) silver chain

6.3km away

Borland silver chain

8.6km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

31.2km away

Whitlaw silver chain

52.2km away

Haddington silver chain

60.3km away

Traprain Law silver chain

67.1km away

Norrie's Law hoard

74.8km away

Hoardweel silver chain

82.3km away

Dunnicaer fort

165.8km away
more Pictish sites....
  • Sixt Car Rental

Accommodation near Carnwath House

Shieldhill Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBiggar
6.8km away
New Lanark Mill Hotel
hotelLanark
10.2km away
New Lanark SYHA Hostel
hostelLanark
10.3km away
Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLanark
10.7km away
Tinto House Hotel
hotel, restaurantBiggar
10.8km away
Toftcombs Mansion House
self-cateringBiggar
10.8km away
Elphinstone Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBiggar
10.9km away
Herdshill Guest House
bed and breakfastWishaw
16.8km away
Best Western Hilcroft Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barWhitburn
18.7km away
Drochil Castle Farmhouse
bed and breakfastWest Linton
18.9km away

Accommodation search

(leave blank to view all)
Accommodation type
bed and breakfasts
campsites
castles
holiday parks
hostels
hotels
self-catering apartments
self-catering cottages
self-catering lodges
spas
  • advertisement
more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Carnwath House

Shieldhill Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBiggar
6.8km away
Carmichael Visitor Centre and Farm Shop
caféCarmichael
8.1km away
Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLanark
10.7km away
Tinto House Hotel
hotel, restaurantBiggar
10.8km away
Elphinstone Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBiggar
10.9km away
Best Western Hilcroft Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barWhitburn
18.7km away
Premier Inn Livingston (Bathgate)
hotel, restaurantLivingston
21.8km away
Stobo Castle
hotel, restaurantStobo
21.9km away
Whitmuir The Organic Place
café, restaurantWest Linton
22.0km away
Dawyck Café
caféStobo
22.2km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 17th of February 2012 at 11:11 pm. Updated on the 10th of August 2022 at 9:16 am.

Leave a comment

back to the top of the page

Connect with us

Like us on Facebook

Receive our newsletter

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by Stravaig_Aboot

Quick links

Stay in a Scottish castle
Edinburgh Festival accommodation
Hotels in Scotland
Car hire in Scotland
Places to eat and drink in Scotland
Castles in Scotland
Trace your Scottish ancestors
Scottish clans
Standing stones in Scotland
The Picts
Pictish symbol stones
Pictish placenames
Scottish bands and musicians
Scottish films
Scottish TV shows
West Highland Way

About

Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
read more....

Cookies

To make this site work properly we use cookies to store information on your computer. Click here to read more.
© 2003 - 2023 Andy Sweet / Stravaiging around Scotland. Powered by WordPress. Hosted by Tsohost.