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Shieldhill Castle


Shieldhill is a country house hotel which incorporates an earlier castle.

The origins of Shieldhill are said to go back to the 12th century, when a castle may have been built in 1199 by the Chancellor family. Some sources refer to the Chancellor family existing in the area prior to the Norman Conquest, while some state that they came to Lanarkshire along with the Somervilles of Carnwath.

Since the first mention of a member of the Chancellor family seems to come in 1198, the latter story is perhaps more likely. That earliest Chancellor was Hugh Chanceller, who witnessed a charter of William I to the monks of Kelso along with William Fleming of Biggar.

In 1434 Thomas Somerville, the 1st Lord Somerville, granted George Chancler the lands of “Sheildhill” (Shieldhill) and “half the lands of Quadquan” (Quothquan).

The Chancellors seem to have considered Quothquan their main residence, and in 1533 a William Chancellor was described as the owner of Shieldhill, Quothquan and Cormiston.

William Chancellor fought for Mary Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside, and as a result the Chancellors’ main house at Quothquan was destroyed by the victors, and the Chancellors moved to Shieldhill, it becoming their main seat.

At this time the Chancellors are said to have re-roofed the old tower at Shieldhill, and made other improvements to bring it up to the standard expected in the 16th century.

The oldest remaining part of Shieldhill today is a square keep which is of a style dated to the 16th century. This would certainly seem to tie in with the Chancellors carrying out work at Shieldhill following the destruction of Quothquan. A circular stair tower to the north of the keep was probably added at this time. This was the main entrance into the castle until 1820.

The walls of the keep are massively thick, and it’s not inconceivable that the Chancellors did indeed either rebuild or modify an earlier tower.

Shieldhill Castle

Pont 34: Glasgow and the county of Lanark
Timothy Pont, c.1583-1614map image courtesy of NLS

It would appear that work may have been done to the castle in the 17th century, as on the east wall there is a carved panel featuring a simple shield and the date 1619.

Shieldhill Castle

A doocot standing to the west of the castle was built in the 17th century, although it was remodelled in the 19th century to resemble a castellated tower.

Shieldhill Castle

In 1820 extensive additions were made to Shieldhill, with new wings extending the footprint of the castle considerably, and a new entrance created. Within the keep’s wall, just inside the new entrance, is an intramural staircase.

Shieldhill Castle

The staircase leads up to the first floor, where the main hall would presumably once have been, although it is now used as a conference room.

Shieldhill Castle

During the course of the renovation of the old tower’s interior it was discovered that the first floor once contained a chapel. Part of an altar was found behind the panelling of what was then a library, along with a wall cavity that once held a piscina.

The original entrance door was apparently removed from the round tower, and set into the south face of the keep. A carved stone, reputedly part of the altar, has now been installed above the original door, and is carved with two shields either side of a decorative vane. The one on the left is apparently 15th century and bears the crest of the Chancellor family, while the one of the right’s meaning is unknown as it is too worn. Also carved are the initials “IHS” and “MA”.

Shieldhill Castle

Shieldhill Castle

Above the new entrance in the west wall is a carved panel depicting a cross with the initials AC and HR either side of it, presumably for Alexander Chancellor and his wife Helen Hamilton Robertson.

Shieldhill Castle

Shieldhill Castle

Further work was carried out at the end of the 19th century. In 1898 a Frederick Hume Chancellor sold Shieldhill and its lands at a public auction. A single storey extension was built on the east of the castle in 1913. The castle was later bought back by Sir John Robert Chancellor in 1941, along with 1000 acres of the original estate.

In 1959 Shieldhill was converted into a hotel, and it is still run as a hotel today.

Shieldhill Castle

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Alternative names for Shieldhill Castle

Scheelhil; Sheelhill; Sheildhill; Shield Hill; Shieldhill; Shieldhill House

Where is Shieldhill Castle?

Shieldhill Castle is in the parish of Libberton and the county of Lanarkshire.

Grid reference:NT 00652 40415

Lat / long:55.646874,-3.580159

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

OS Map for Shieldhill Castle

OS map 336
Biggar & Broughton (Culter Fell & Dollar Law)
OS Explorer map 336


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Directions to Shieldhill Castle

Enter a starting point

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Weather at Shieldhill Castle

8°C
max 9°C / min 8°C
12km/h SSW
1030mb
93%
75%
08:02 16:53

Broken clouds
Weather observed at Biggar at 00:21
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References (books)

Biggar and the House of Fleming
William Hunter
Edinburgh, 1867
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015
The Castles of South-West Scotland
Mike Slater
Malvern, 1993

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Shieldhill Castle

Arthurshiels

1.0km away

Netherton (possible) (site of)

1.3km away

Quothquan (site of)

1.4km away

Burnfoot (possible) (site of)

1.5km away

White Castle (site of)

1.7km away

Covington Tower

3.2km away

Cormiston Tower (site of)

3.2km away

Gladstone (site of)

3.4km away

Thankerton (site of)

3.7km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Shieldhill Castle

Quothquan Law fort

2.7km away

West Lindsaylands cursus

4.0km away

Kirk Hill (possible) fort

6.5km away

Calla broch

8.6km away

Wester Yardhouses souterrain

10.4km away

Harehill Knowe cairn

12.4km away

Harestanes stone circle

12.4km away

Whitslade souterrain

12.4km away

Merlin's Grave (site of) (possible) cist

14.0km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Shieldhill Castle

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

41.2km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

41.4km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

41.4km away

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

50.2km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

53.3km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

60.5km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

65.8km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

65.9km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

66.2km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Shieldhill Castle

Todholes (possible) silver chain

6.1km away

Borland silver chain

7.9km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

28.2km away

Whitlaw silver chain

49.7km away

Haddington silver chain

60.7km away

Traprain Law silver chain

67.2km away

Norrie's Law hoard

78.2km away

Hoardweel silver chain

80.6km away

Dunnicaer fort

169.3km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Shieldhill Castle

Shieldhill Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBiggar
0.0km away
Elphinstone Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBiggar
4.4km away
Tinto House Hotel
hotel, restaurantBiggar
4.8km away
Toftcombs Mansion House
self-cateringBiggar
4.9km away
New Lanark Mill Hotel
hotelLanark
12.8km away
New Lanark SYHA Hostel
hostelLanark
12.9km away
Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLanark
14.2km away
Drochil Castle Farmhouse
bed and breakfastWest Linton
15.9km away
Stobo Castle
hotel, restaurantStobo
17.0km away
Days Inn Abington
hotelAbington
17.3km away

Accommodation search

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bed and breakfasts
campsites
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holiday parks
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self-catering cottages
self-catering lodges
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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Shieldhill Castle

Shieldhill Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBiggar
0.0km away
Elphinstone Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBiggar
4.4km away
Tinto House Hotel
hotel, restaurantBiggar
4.8km away
Carmichael Visitor Centre and Farm Shop
caféCarmichael
6.0km away
Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLanark
14.2km away
Dawyck Café
caféStobo
16.9km away
Stobo Castle
hotel, restaurantStobo
17.0km away
Abington Hotel
hotel, restaurantAbington
18.5km away
Whitmuir The Organic Place
café, restaurantWest Linton
21.3km away
Cringletie House
hotel, restaurant, barEddleston
23.2km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 4th of May 2012 at 5:46 pm. Updated on the 30th of June 2022 at 3:59 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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