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Quothquan

Glottiana Praefectura Superior
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1654map image courtesy of NLS

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.

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Alternative names for Quothquan

Cothquene; Kothcon; Kothcon Law; Quadquan; Quathquan; Quodquen

Where is Quothquan?

Quothquan is in the parish of Libberton and the county of Lanarkshire.

Grid reference: NS 995 395

Lat / long: 55.639088, -3.597357

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

OS Map for Quothquan

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


Directions to Quothquan

Enter a starting point

Weather at Quothquan

9°C
max 9°C / min 4°C
6km/h ENE
1029mb
88%
3%
03:59 20:22

Clear sky
Weather observed at Biggar at 23:43

References (books)

Biggar and the House of Fleming
William Hunter
Edinburgh, 1867
The Castles of Glasgow and the Clyde
Gordon Mason
Musselburgh, 2000
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015
The Castles of South-West Scotland
Mike Slater
Malvern, 1993

Castles near Quothquan

Netherton (possible) (site of)

0.2km away

Burnfoot (possible) (site of)

0.9km away

Shieldhill Castle

1.4km away

Arthurshiels

2.0km away

Covington Tower

2.1km away

Thankerton (site of)

2.3km away

Cormiston Tower (site of)

2.4km away

Annieston Tower

2.9km away

White Castle (site of)

3.0km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Quothquan

Quothquan Law fort

1.3km away

West Lindsaylands cursus

3.7km away

Kirk Hill (possible) fort

5.3km away

Calla broch

9.3km away

Wester Yardhouses souterrain

11.3km away

Harehill Knowe cairn

13.0km away

Whitslade souterrain

13.1km away

Harestanes stone circle

13.8km away

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

14.7km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Quothquan

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

42.5km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

42.8km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

42.8km away

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

50.7km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

53.9km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

61.5km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

67.1km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

67.2km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

67.5km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Quothquan

Todholes (possible) silver chain

7.4km away

Borland silver chain

9.3km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

26.9km away

Whitlaw silver chain

50.9km away

Haddington silver chain

62.1km away

Traprain Law silver chain

68.6km away

Norrie's Law hoard

79.5km away

Hoardweel silver chain

81.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

170.6km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Quothquan

Shieldhill Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBiggar
1.4km away
Tinto House Hotel
hotel, restaurantBiggar
3.8km away
Elphinstone Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBiggar
5.0km away
Toftcombs Mansion House
self-cateringBiggar
5.8km away
New Lanark Mill Hotel
hotelLanark
11.9km away
New Lanark SYHA Hostel
hostelLanark
12.0km away
Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLanark
13.4km away
Days Inn Abington
hotelAbington
16.0km away
Drochil Castle Farmhouse
bed and breakfastWest Linton
17.2km away
Abington Hotel
hotel, restaurantAbington
17.3km away

Accommodation search

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

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Quothquan

Shieldhill Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBiggar
1.4km away
Tinto House Hotel
hotel, restaurantBiggar
3.8km away
Carmichael Visitor Centre and Farm Shop
caféCarmichael
4.8km away
Elphinstone Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBiggar
5.0km away
Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLanark
13.4km away
Abington Hotel
hotel, restaurantAbington
17.3km away
Dawyck Café
caféStobo
17.7km away
Stobo Castle
hotel, restaurantStobo
17.9km away
Whitmuir The Organic Place
café, restaurantWest Linton
22.7km away
Cringletie House
hotel, restaurant, barEddleston
24.4km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 4th of May 2013 at 11:28 pm. Updated on the 30th of June 2022 at 4:00 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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