Cowthally Castle

Cowthally Castle
Carnwath, Lanarkshire
Remains of Cowthally Castle
Location of Cowthally Castle
Coordinates	55°42′57″N 3°38′21″W / 55.7159°N 3.6392°W / 55.7159; -3.6392Coordinates: 55°42′57″N 3°38′21″W / 55.7159°N 3.6392°W / 55.7159; -3.6392
Built	12th century
Controlled by	Clan Somerville

Cowthally Castle, also known as Couthalley, is a ruined L-plan castle near Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The remains are protected as a scheduled monument.^[1]

The castle appears to have been constructed in the 12th century, and was re-built in 1375. The castle passed to Sir John Somerville, 4th Baron of Linton through marriage in 1317 to Lady Elizabeth Douglas. The castle was altered and extended in 1415 and again in 1524. The castle was besieged in 1557 and was partially destroyed and was rebuilt in 1586.^[2]

The buildings at the Castle surviving in the 17th century were carefully described by the 11th Lord Somerville in his family history; the Memorie of the Somervilles.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Couthally Castle, Carnwath". Historic Scotland. http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2300:35:798825479023023::NO::P35_SELECTED_MONUMENT:3909. 
2. ^ "Couthally Castle". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/47617/details/couthally+castle/. 
3. ^ See sources, especially, Memorie of the Somervilles, vol. 1, (1815), pp. 126, 461-2, 354-361 with picture.

Sources

• Scott, Walter, ed., The Memorie of the Somervilles by James, 11th Lord Somerville, vol. 1, Ballantyne, Edinburgh (1815)
• Scott, Walter, ed., The Memorie of the Somervilles by James, 11th Lord Somerville, vol. 2, Ballantyne, Edinburgh (1815)