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Cadzow Castle, seen across the Avon Gorge from the Duke's Bridge

Cadzow Castle is a ruined castle, constructed between 1500 and 1550 on the site of an earlier royal castle, 1 mile south-east of the centre of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The town of Hamilton was formerly known as Cadzow, until renamed in 1455 in honour of James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... The River Avon Water is a river in Scotland and a tributary of the River Clyde. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, as used before 1603 The monarch of Scotland was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... , The county town of Lanarkshire, Hamilton is situated in west central Scotland and serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. ... This article is about the country. ... Sir James Hamilton of Cadzow (d. ...

It sits above a gorge overlooking the Avon Water in what is now Chatelherault Country Park, but was previously the hunting and pleasure grounds of the Duke of Hamilton's estate of Hamilton Palace. The River Avon Water is a river in Scotland and a tributary of the River Clyde. ... Chatelherault Country Park is a Park in Hamilton, Scotland. ... Shield of the Dukes of Hamilton since 1656 The Dukedom of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created in 1643, the holder is the premier peer of Scotland. ... Hamilton Palace, the former seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, was first built in 1695 and stood until its demolition in 1921. ...

History

The early castle

The ancient kings of Strathclyde are said to have had a hunting lodge at Cadzow. A hunter on horseback shoots at deer or elk with a bow. ...

The original Cadzow Castle was built in the 12th Century as an occasional royal residence for David I. Royal charters of David's reign were issued from here as early as 1139. His successors Alexander II and Alexander III, and others down to Robert the Bruce also used the castle, primarily as a hunting lodge. Linguistic division in early twelfth century Scotland. ... Alexander II (August 24, 1198 – July 6, 1249), king of Scotland, son of William I, the Lion, and of Ermengarde of Beaumont, was born at Haddington, East Lothian, in 1198, and succeeded to the kingdom on the death of his father on 4 December 1214. ... Coronation of King Alexander on Moot Hill, Scone. ... Robert I, King of Scots (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329) usually known in modern English as Robert the Bruce (Mediaeval Gaelic:Roibert a Briuis; modern Scottish Gaelic: Raibeart Bruis; Norman French: Robert de Brus or Robert de Bruys; ) was King of the Scots from 1306 until his death. ...

The ancient Cadzow oak forest and Cadzow White Park Cattle in the 19th century.

It is possible that this earlier castle was on an alternative site at NS729548, now known as Castlehill, although the area is now a housing estate.

The estate of Cadzow was divided in 1222, with Cadzow Castle passing to the Comyns. Following the forfeiture of their lands for supporting John Baliol, the estate was granted by Robert the Bruce to Walter FitzGilbert de Hambeldon in the early 14th century. FitzGilbert was ennobled as the first Baron of Cadzow, and is the ancestor of the Dukes of Hamilton. He constructed a motte near the town (NS729548), which remains, adjacent to the M74 motorway. John Balliol, the son of Devorguilla Balliol and John, 5th Baron de Balliol, was the king of Scotland from November 17, 1292-1296. ... Sir Walter fitz Gilbert of Cadzow, 1st Laird of Cadzow (d. ... Shield of the Dukes of Hamilton since 1656 The Dukedom of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created in 1643, the holder is the premier peer of Scotland. ... A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle. ...

The 16th century castle

Rebuilt by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart around 1530, it is here that Mary Queen of Scots stayed after her dramatic escape from Loch Leven Castle in 1568. Sir James Hamilton of Finnart (d. ... Mary I of Scotland; known as Mary, Queen of Scots Mary I of Scotland (Mary Stuart or Stewart) (December 8, 1542 – February 8, 1587), better known as Mary, Queen of Scots, was the ruler of Scotland from December 14, 1542 – July 24, 1567. ... Loch Leven Castle is a castle on an island at in Loch Leven in the Perth and Kinross region of Scotland. ...

Having being destroyed by the Crown in the late 16th century, it was partially rebuilt in the 18th century, to serve as a folly within the Duke's park. This article refers to the Commonwealths concept of the monarchys legal authority. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... For other uses, see Folly (disambiguation). ...

The castle today

The site is now owned and managed by Historic Scotland. There is no public access to the ruins, as the structure is unstable, and largely supported by scaffolding. Footpaths within the country park allow visitors to view the ruin. The Duke's Bridge, built high across the Avon Gorge, offers the most dramatic view of the ruins above the wooded gorge. Historic Scotland is the Scottish agency looking after historic monuments. ...

External links

• Cadzow Castle - site information from Historic Scotland

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Cadzow Castle

Coordinates: 55.76978° N 4.02755° W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...