Illieston Castle

The Stewart kings James II and James IV are said to have had a hunting lodge at Illieston. The castle was built on the slopes of the River Almond some time around 1600. The name Illieston may be a variation on the name Elliston. John Ellis had obtained his first charter of Illieston during the years of the British Interregnum, so the Hamilton family were able to claim the property back under the Scottish feudal laws of non-entry, which allowed a landlord to take possession of land if the tenant died without an heir or if the heir failed to claim their right to the land within a certain time frame. According to John Lauder, John Ellis's son-in-law, the lawyer and author James Anderson,…

The castle was originally a T-plan design, 2 storeys tall, with an attic, slated roof, and an additional kitchen wing which has since been demolished. It has gabled dormers, and a staircase tower on the south side that runs the full height of the main building. The modern interior includes four bedrooms and three reception rooms over three levels, plus a 2.8 by room within the turret. A new kitchen wing includes a separate laundry room and small lobby, beside a walled garden. The castle also has a biomass boiler.