Clan Muir's Castles
1. Dunadd Ancient Fortress- Held by Fergus Mor the founder of Clan Muir in Scotland.
2. Bothwell Castle- On June 25, 1311, John de la More and Brice de la More were two of several defenders of this castle.
3. Polkelly Castle- Built and controlled by the Mure family for more then 500 years. This is the other Historic and Ancient Seats by the clan Chieftains, in which the younger sons own Polkelly.
4. Rowallan Castle - The castle and barony has been owned, held, and built by the clan Muir. Rowallan castle is one of the Historic and Ancient seats by the clan's chieftains . This includes the new Rowallan Castle.
5. Caldwell Castle- the tower has lay derelict for centuries, once the home and seat of the Mure family " Records for the Caldwell estate near Uplawmoor in East Renfrewshire go back to 1294. Gilchrist Mure acquired the lands and castle of Caldwell through marriage to the heiress of Caldwell of that Ilk and the estate remained with the family until the late 17th century. Caldwell Tower is all that remains of Caldwell Castle, which was probably built in the 16th century.
6. Caldwell Mansion- A new mansion house was built around 1712 by William Mure on the lands of Ramshead, however the present Robert Adam designed house was built by his son, William 'Baron Mure' about 200 yards lower down from the original. Caldwell is the last in a series of early experimental houses in the castle style which began in England with Ugbrooke House and in Scotland with Mellerstain House in Berwickshire. The house is protected as a Category A. In 1799, Jean Hunter Mure, writing from Caldwell, records that Mr Mure is at present in the very agony of making a new garden on the Brandy Hill behind the stables and offices. He has converted the old house into stables and means next year to take away the offices entirely which will make an immense improvement to the place for at present they are not a beautiful ornament.[ This new garden was extensive and incorporated a hot-house. Caldwell House was the Mure family home until 1909.
7. Hall of Caldwell- In 1715 William Mure, advocate, built a hall house on the Caldwell Estate about half a mile south-west of his ancestral home, the old Castle of Caldwell. Called Hall of Caldwell, this remained in the Mure family until the 1930's. The last of the line to live there was Colonel William Mure, with his wife Georgiana and their children William (b.1898) and Marjorie Janet (b.1896). On the Colonel's return from the Boer War in 1902 he developed and extended the Hall, as well as carrying out extensive tree-planting across the parish.
8. Abercorn Castle- The Mures of Abercorn owned Abercorn Castle Rankine's Mure grandson long held out the castle of Abercorn for the Douglases and was slain when it was stormed and the power of that great family ( Mure) overthrown.
9. Abercorn Manor- At one time the Mure clan owned Abercorn Manor, Abercorn Church and were in control of the village of Abercorn.
10. Skaithmuir Tower Castle- The gist of Gibson’s remarks about Skaithmuir are contained in the following extract:- “ The lands of Skaithmuir, from the reign of David II till about the middle of the 16th century, belonged to the family of More, or Mure, of Skaithmuir. The old castle, of which it is supposed a square tower about five hundred yards west of Carron Hall mansion is all that now remains, was said to have been built by Sir Reginald More, Lord Great Chamberlain under David II.“About 1488, Alexander Mure of Skaithmuir was tenant, with his son, James, of Westerton of Bothkenner. A charter, granted by Robert Bisset of Quarrell, is dated at Skaithmuir, 21st May 1543, sic (probably 1534), and William Muir of Skamur is a witness. The confirmation of this charter is dated 9th September, 1542. Probably about this date the Bissets came into possession of the lands. On 31st October, 1582, Alexander Mure of Skaithmuir was retoured heir of Alexander Mure of Skaithmuir, his father, in the lands of Skaithmuir, and as late as 1617, Alexander Mure, eldest son of Alexander Mure of Skaithmuir, was alive. From this time Skaithmuir ceased to be used as a territorial title.”
11. Auchindrane Castle- This was a property of the Browns, but they supported the wrong side in the Wars of Independence, and the property was given to the Annans by Robert the Bruce, then went to the Mures. There are no visible remains of the tower-house which stood at Auchendrane, probably on the site occupied by the present house (a listed building, built in 1856).
12. Cloncaird Castle- 1500s, Walter Muir begins the building of Cloncaird Castle 12 miles southeast of Ayr. Cloncaird Castle remained in the possession of the descendants of Edward for several centuries
13. Burgh Muir Castle- Once belonging and owned by the Muir clan.
14. Craichlaw Castle- In the early fifteenth century as are also the Mures who then owned Craichlaw Castle "The Agnews of Lachnaw. A History of the Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway
15. Erskine Castle- Built, occupied and controlled by the Mure Clan in Erskine, Renfrewshire. It was granted to Robert Mure, second lawful son to William Muir of Rowallan. His heirs and clansmen heritably subject to legal reversion the lands of Erskine.
16. Skeldon Castle- Built, and controlled by the Mures of Skeldon.
17. Blacklaw Tower castle- Built and control by the Mures of Blacklaw.
18. Cowden Hall/ Mansion- The hall passed to the Mures of Caldwell in 1776- 1910.
19. Monkstoun Castle- belonging to the Mures of the lands and castle of Munktoun.
20. Rothienorman Castle- Once owned and control by the Moirs of Aberdeen for several centuries.
21. Tonley Mansion- was owned and controlled by the Mures and Byres families. What’s left standing, not much, hints at the once grand Scottish baronial residence and estate of around 5000 acres belonging to the Moir-Byres family.
22. Cassencarrie Castle- originally a four-story tower-house built and occupied by the Muirs of Cassencarie in the late 16th century, it was extended to the north in the late 18th century with a service wing added in the early 19th century.
23. Ravenscraig Castle (Kirkcadly)- was built by Mures and most likely defended for the kings of Scotland, but king James III gave it to clan Sinclairs rather than clan Muir.
24. Glanderstoun Castle- Crawford mentions a confirmation of Glanderston to the Mures in 1507, it appears to be earlier. From 1500 to 1516 it was the cause of a feud between the Mures and Maxwells of Nether Pollock. The tower is probably 1500 or earlier. I speculate that the feature in Glanderston Woods is a watch tower, since there was such a tower (standing today) opposite Old Caldwell Castle, and possibly at Capelrig.
25. Gladerstoun Mansion-Glanderston Estate, associated with the Stewart Kings of Scotland, passed from the de Croc family to the Earls of Lennox and thence to John Mure of Caldwell who was recorded as living in Glanderston House in 1560.A new house was built in 1697 and in 1774 the estate was sold to Speirs of Elderslie, a Glasgow tobacco baron.
26. Stanecastle Tower- Andro Mure and Robert Mure residing there and the Mure family 1640-1876.
27. Leckie Castle- David Moir of Craigarnhall, Sheriff Clerk of Stirling, who was probably his law agent. At all events the crisis ended in the transference of the estate of Leckie to the lawyer, and there was no longer a Leckie of that ilk, although the dispossessed Laird continued by courtesy to be so designed. With this Laird, therefore ends the long line of Leckies of Leckie. The Moirs held Leckie lands and castle since 1664? - 1906.
28. Watson House/ Mansion- The new mansion house of Leckie was built by Robert Moir in 1829.
29. Stoneywood Mansion- The Stoneywood house was owned by all the four generations of Moirs. These Moir of stoneywood would be famous for taken part in the Jacobite Rising.
30. Dundonald Castle- Dundonald Castle was the favourite home of Robert II and his wife Elizabeth Mure.
31. Perceton Castle- Perceton House was the site of an old castle, owned by the Mure family.
32. Loch an Eilein Castle- Mores of Drumcork was in charge of this castle. GRIZEL MORE OF ROTHIEMURCHUS: There is an incident thus recorded in the Fair Collections During the troubles of 1688 -9. The Covenanters the family of Rothiemurchus and some of the neighbors were obliged to take refuge in the castle of Loch an Eilean their own property During their residence there they were attacked from the shore while a smart fire of musketry was kept up from the castle to carry on Grlzel More the Lady Rothiemurchus who was a clever active woman was busily employed all the time of the attack in casting leaden balls for the defence.
33. Loch Doon Castle- Edward Mure was a keepership of Loch Doon castle.
34. Ellon Castle- In an between the hostile forces Thomas Forbes of was killed and Kermuck and his eldest son John were outlawed An exhaustive account of the has been compiled and written by Mr Thomas Moir Ellon. In 1657 the Kennedys made over estates to John Moir afterwards of Stoneywood his wife who held them till 1669 when they were disposed of for 42,500 Scots to Sir John Forbes of Vatcrton son of the slaughtered Thomas Bailie.
35. Dalmusternock House- Built and owned by the Mures of Rowallan. was a dower house built and occupied by William Mure after his marriage and prior to inheriting the family seat of Rowallan Castle.
36. Blairdrummond Castle- The original Blair Drummond House was built in 1715. Sir John Kay, a tea merchant from Glasgow, purchased the house and its surrounding land in 1916. Because he had no sons, Kay passed the property to his nephew Sir John Muir, the father of the park's present owner Jamie Muir.
37. Capelrig House- 1600, the estate of Capelrig was bought by the Mure family of Caldwell. During the bloody, Covenanting era the Mures temporarily lost Capelrig to King Charles's general in Renfrewshire, Sir Tam Dalziel of Binns. The lands were later restored to the family and then sold to Robert Barclay, a Glasgow lawyer in 1765.
38. Glasgow Bishop Castle- The Mures of Caldwell attack and capture the castle, but eventually the government attack the castle, but the Mures of Caldwell sacked the castle and left before the government forces.
39. Loudoun Castle- The Mures and the Campbells shared this castle together.
40. Morton Castle- At one time the Morton family a variant spelling of Moor who built, occupied and controlled.
41. Drumsuie Castle- The Muirs of Drumsoy owned and built by the Mures of Drumsoy.
42. Longcaster Castle- The M' Dowalls of Garthland who built a castle on an Island in Dowalton Loch in which in 1496 it was in possession of the Mures of Claichlaw.
43. Bedrule Castle- Sir Walter Comyn gave Sir Gilchrist Muir of Rowallan the lands in the borders with Bedrule castle.
44. Foveran Castle- Built, controlled and occupied by the Mures of Foveran.
45. Castle Muir " Rueberry" Castle- Castle was built by the and owned by the Mure clan in Kirkcudbright.
46. Craigskean Castle- Mures of Craigskean had a castle there." Extracts from: Carrick Gallovidian by J.K.McDowell (1947).
47. Knockdon Castle- Owned by the Mure of Auchendrane .
48. Denmore House- George Charles and Mary Agnes Moir who owned this house.
49. Hunterhill House- Owned by Thomas Muir.
50. Crossbasket Castle- James Muir, merchant in Glasgow was one of the heirs to purchase castle/ house.
51. Birdston Farm House- Thomas Muir’s ancestors, who were farmers from Ayrshire, purchased land at Birdston around 1650 and built dwellings there. A later Birdston Farm House still stands today, its design very similar to that of Huntershill House at Bishopbriggs. Thomas Muir’s father owned land at both Birdston and Hayston nearby. Birdston was also the birthplace and residence of ‘The Campsie Poet’, William Muir.
52. Kermuck Castle- Owned by the Mures after they took it from the Kennedy clan.
53. Lonmay Castle- Was occupied by the Moirs of Lonmay.
54. Park House- In 1820 the lands of Park estate passed from the Irvines to the Moirs of Aberdeen.
55. Bark Mill/ Mains house- Mains lodge as Muir Lodge after William Muir who built Main House.
56. Myres Castle- Upper addition to south east turret bears a datestone, and armorial panels of Stephen Paterson and Elizabeth Mure, his wife, who had acquired Myres by 1611.
57. Fenwick Parish Church- Outside the stairs to Rowallan loft with the coats of arms of the Mure of Rowallan. Built attend and where the convenanters Mures went to church.
58. Caldwell Parish Church- This town church was built in 1889 by the owners of the Caldwell Estates, the Mure family.
59. Neilston Parish Church- The chieftains of the Mure of Caldwell are buried in a vault at this church.
60. Kilwinning Abbey- Gilchrist Mure as a reward for his valour at the battle of Largs to commemorate his good fortune and devoted certain of his lands for religious purposes to founded the abbey.
61. Carron Hall- Built and occupied by Sir Reginald Mure and the Mures of Skaithmuir.
62. St. Laurence Chapel- Built by Sir Gilchrist Mure.
63. St. Michael Chapel- Built by Sir Gilchrist Mure.
64. Chapel of Kilmarnock- Built by Sir Gilchrist Mure and the burial of the chieftains of Mure of Rowallan.
65. Penkill Castle- Controlled and owned by the Mures before they were ejected wrongfully by the Boyds.
66. Lauchope House- Home to the Muirheads.
67. Craigmiller Castle- Home to the Gilmores.
68. Sempill Castle and Church- Robert Mure of Caldwell married into the Sempill, and changed his name to Robert Sempill, and owned Sempill castle.
69. House Old Beid House- Owned by the Moirs.
70. Perceton Church- serves as the burial ground for the Macreddies and Mures of Perceton.
