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All that remains of Darnley Castle is part of a tower and an adjoining room. Yet it has had a colourful history.
Situated south of Nitshill Road, the castle was the ancestral home of the Stewarts of Darnley, who became the Earls of Lennox in 1488 after Duncan, the existing earl, was executed by James III.
Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, returned from exile in England in 1565, and asked his cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, to marry him while staying at nearby Crookston Castle.
He was reputedly nursed back to health by Mary, under the ancient sycamore that still stands across the Nitshill Road from Darnley Castle.
Darnley became Mary's second husband - but was murdered in 1566 by a group that included the Earl of Bothwell, Mary's third husband.
(Bit of a wumin' that Mary wis!)
Darnley's father, Mathew Stewart, became Regent to Henry's grandson, James VI, in 1571, but was murdered later that year by some of Mary's supporters.
(An' they think its bad in Glesga noo!)
In the 17th century Darnley Castle was in the possession of Ludovick Stewart but in 1679 he found himself heavily in debt and lost much of the estate.
Just over a decade later, the castle was bought by the Duke of Montrose, who let it fall into ruin.
Later, when the estate was owned by the Maxwells of Nether Pollok, most of what remained was demolished.
The tower and adjacent room were later used as a doocot, a farm and a mill before they were converted into The Mill restaurant.
This century has seen the building named The Ashoka at The Mill Indian restaurant.
(Highly recommended!)

Back to Castles Index please.

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