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Polmaise Castle


The East Central Lowlands
Timothy Pont, c. 1583 – 96map image courtesy of NLS

Polmaise was an early castle which was succeeded by a now-demolished 17th century house.

Early in the 14th century Edward I planned to build a pair of castles either side of the River Forth in order to protect the approach to Stirling. In 1304 or 1305 he sent writs to Sir John Sandale, Chamberlain of Scotland, instructing him to look for suitable sites for these castles. One of these writs was also sent to Sir John Segrave, 2nd Baron Segrave, warden south of the Forth, regarding a site at Polmaise, while the other was sent to John of Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, warden between the Forth and Orkney, regarding “a castle at Tulibothevile.” It isn’t clear if the castle was built at Polmaise at that time however.

In February 1483 or 1484 Alexander Cunyngham de Polmas was confirmed in various lands including the sixth part of the lands of Elchquhok and Inchemertin. Alexander was a son of Isobel Glen, an Elcho and Inchmartine heiress, who had married secondly Robert Cunningham of Auchinbowie.

Easter Powmais is marked on Pont’s late 16th century map as a substantial tower surrounded by enclosed parkland.

In 1691 work was carried out which remodelled the tower as a three storey mansion and in the late 18th century it was extended with the addition of new wings.

The Murray family lived in the house until 1868 when they moved to the newly-built Polmaise Castle on the slopes of Gillies Hill near Cambusbarron. By 1958 what had become known as Old Polmaise House was roofless and was demolished soon after.

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Alternative names for Polmaise Castle

E. Pomais; E. Powmais; Easter Polmaise; Easter Pomais; Easter Powmais; Old Polmaise House; Pollemase; Polmais-Cunynghame; Polmas; Polmase; Polmasse

Surnames associated with Polmaise Castle

Cunningham

Where is Polmaise Castle?

Polmaise Castle is in the parish of St Ninians and the county of Stirlingshire.

Grid reference:NS 83570 92398

Lat / long:56.110102,-3.873808

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OS Map for Polmaise Castle

OS map 366
Stirling & Ochil Hills West (Alloa & Dunblane)
OS Explorer map 366


Directions to Polmaise Castle

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Weather at Polmaise Castle

4°C
max 5°C / min 2°C
6km/h E
1007mb
92%
100%
06:02 18:39

Light rain
Weather observed at Cambus at 01:59

References (books)

Material for a place-name survey of East Stirlingshire
John Reid
Falkirk, 2019
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015
The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1424-1513
James Balfour Paul
Edinburgh, 1882

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Polmaise Castle

Steuarthall (site of)

1.0km away

Throsk (site of)

2.1km away

Manor Castle

2.6km away

Tullibody Castle (site of)

2.8km away

Powis (site of)

3.4km away

Kersie

3.8km away

Bannockburn House

4.4km away

Blairlogie Castle

4.6km away

Menstrie Castle

4.7km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Polmaise Castle

Bannockburn West cursus

3.0km away

Easter Moss souterrain

3.4km away

Randolphfield B standing stone

4.1km away

Randolphfield A standing stone

4.1km away

Airthrey Stone standing stone

4.6km away

Dumyat fort

5.0km away

Pathfoot Stone standing stone

5.4km away

Lipney standing stone

5.7km away

Fairy Knowe cairn

7.0km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Polmaise Castle

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

6.5km away

Old Kilmadock 1 Class II symbol stone

16.4km away

Old Kilmadock 2 Class I symbol stone

16.4km away

Blackford Class I symbol stone

19.5km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

23.4km away

Fowlis Wester Class II cross-slab

32.9km away

Fowlis Wester Church Class III cross-slab

33.0km away

Dupplin Cross Class III cross

34.1km away

Strathmiglo Class I symbol stone

41.3km away
more Pictish stones....

Pictish sites near Polmaise Castle

Todholes (possible) silver chain

50.9km away

Borland silver chain

51.3km away

Norrie's Law hoard

59.2km away

Haddington silver chain

70.2km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

72.5km away

Traprain Law silver chain

76.5km away

Whitlaw silver chain

79.4km away

Hoardweel silver chain

100.1km away

Dunnicaer fort

140.1km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Polmaise Castle

Express By Holiday Inn Stirling
hotelStirling
2.3km away
Premier Inn Stirling City Centre
hotel, restaurantStirling
3.6km away
Golden Lion Hotel
hotelStirling
4.0km away
Terraces Hotel, Stirling
hotelStirling
4.0km away
Willy Wallace Hostel
hostelStirling
4.1km away
The Stirling Highland Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barStirling
4.3km away
King Robert Hotel
hotelStirling
4.4km away
Stirling SYHA Hostel
hostelStirling
4.5km away
Premier Inn Stirling South (M9, J9)
hotel, restaurantStirling
4.5km away
Claremont Lodge Hotel
hotelAlloa
4.8km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Polmaise Castle

Premier Inn Stirling City Centre
hotel, restaurantStirling
3.6km away
Papa Joe's Stirling
restaurantStirling
4.1km away
The Stirling Highland Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barStirling
4.3km away
Premier Inn Stirling South (M9, J9)
hotel, restaurantStirling
4.5km away
Airth Castle Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantAirth
8.5km away
Premier Inn Falkirk (Larbert)
hotel, restaurant, barLarbert
9.1km away
Premier Inn Falkirk North
hotel, restaurantFalkirk
9.5km away
Sheriffmuir Inn
hotel, pub, restaurantDunblane
9.8km away
Premier Inn Falkirk Central
hotel, restaurantFalkirk
12.7km away
Best Western Park Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barFalkirk
13.1km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 5th of April 2020 at 5:12 pm. Updated on the 20th of February 2022 at 7:11 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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