The Glasgow district of Castlemilk was at one time the country estate of the Stuarts of Castlemilk, who had connections with the ancient royal family of Scotland.
The estate was acquired by Glasgow Corporation shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and developed for housing in the mid-1950's.
The origins of Castlemilk House, which started out as a fortified tower, are obscured in the distant past.
The oldest part of the house had thick walls, small windows, narrow passages and confined staircases, suggesting that its earliest function was as a defensive stronghold.
The map below shows the layout of Castlemilk House and the surrounding woodland, gardens and ancilliary buildings in the 1850's. These features had been developed in the previous century.
The Ice House shown on the map was used for the preservation of food.
1850's's map showing Castlemilk House with surrounding woodland, gardens, stables and fish pond
The ratification of the Royal Charter in favour of Sir William Stuart of Castlemilk on 24th April 1694, refers to "Castlemilk, alias Castleton". It details the lands "lying within the barrony
of Carmanock and shirriffdom of Lanerk".
1850's map showing large houses, gardens and gatehouse at Castleton, on site of present day shopping centre
Clock tower at Castlemilk Stables in clear winter sunshine
View from central courtyard of newly constructed offices, owned and managed by the Cassiltoun Trust
Oak fireplace, recovered from Castlemilk House, depicting the Stuart family's involvement with the Battle of Orleans in 1429
Silhouette of clock tower at entrance to Castlemilk Stables
Original estate offices at rear entrance to stables courtyard, now restored to their original purpose
View of stables block from gardens at rear
The old stalls at the stables, now full height windows
The last remains of the Ice House shown in the old map are protected by a metal cage
Stone castellated bridge over Castlemilk Burn dating from 1833, refurbished in 2001/2002
Pathway across the bridge from Castlemilk Stables
View from stone bridge of Castlemilk Burn flowing towards Fish Pond
The whitewashed remains of Castlemilk House at adventure playground on elevated site overlooking Fish Pond
Reflections on Fish Pond at Castlemilk House
Outflow from Fish Pond to waterfall carrying water down to Castlemilk Burn
Waterfall carrying water from Fish Pond down to Castlemilk Burn
Castlemilk Burn entering culvert at Croftfoot Road
Course of Castlemilk Burn from Cathkin Braes to Croftfoot
Stone castellated gate piers at eastern entrance to estate
Entrance gates viewed from lawns inside the estate
There was a Gorbals connection with Castlemilk way back in the mid 1800's with a named block in Hospital Street
As a country house it was gradually enlarged and improved to provide a luxurious family residence. The mansion was neglected by the Corporation and allowed to fall into a state of disrepair before being abandoned and eventually demolished in the late 1960's.
The stables block, which included the estate offices, was added around 1800. Castlemilk Stables, which features a beautiful clock tower, were carefully restored in 2007 to provide modern office space around a central courtyard.
Castlemilk Burn, which rises in the Cathkin Braes, flows through the estate supplying the water for the fish pond. It is crossed by a picturesque stone bridge dating from 1833.
The estate's original name of Castleton was retained for the large houses to the west of Castlemilk House, on the site of the present day shopping centre at Castlemilk Arcade. The old maps show that the two parts of the estate were linked by a tree-lined avenue.
Castleton's later title of Castlemilk had been borrowed from the lands of that name in Dumfriesshire held by the Stuart family,
who had named the estate after their castle beside the River Mylk. When the family moved to Castleton in 1579, they changed its name to Castlemilk.
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All original artwork, photography and text ©Gerald Blaikie 2002-2010 Contact: admin@scotcities.com
Unauthorised reproduction of any image on this website is not permitted.
