Quothquan

Quothquan was a castle belonging to the Chancellor family, but nothing of it now remains.

The Chancellors have been associated with this area for hundreds of years, with some sources stating that they lived here prior to the Norman Conquest, while others suggest that they came to Lanarkshire along with the Somervilles of Carnwath.

Whatever the truth is, the first mention of a member of the Chancellor family seems to come in 1198 when a Hugh Chanceller 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 and “half the lands of Quadquan” (Quothquan).

Quothquan seems to have been the main seat of the family until the 16th century, and in 1533 a William Chancellor was described as the owner of Shieldhill, Quothquan and Cormiston.

William fought for Mary Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside, but following the victory of the Earl of Moray, troops were sent out to burn the castles and houses of Mary’s supporters, including Quothquan.

The Chancellors then moved to their other property Shieldhill which became their main seat.

In “The Castles of South-West Scotland” Mike Salter gives this site as the location for Quothquan, an empty plot of land occupying rising ground, within which is a well.

If this isn’t the correct location, another option could be at Roadhead Farm as it occupies high ground and is also next to the ruins of the 13th century Quothquan church.

Early maps show a castle seemingly named as “Kothcon Law” on land between two rivers, suggesting perhaps a location closer to Quothquan Law, although early maps are quite often not particularly accurate in their placement of properties.

Until I’ve had the opportunity to do more research I will leave it located here.