Halkhead Castle

Halkhead Castle has long been demolished, and the successor Hawkhead House (which may have incorporated parts of the old building), was also demolished, in 1953. The site occupied a steep bank to the south of the Cathcart Water, and today there is nothing at all to see; the site is largely overgrown. Halkhead was held by the Stewarts until sold to John Ross from Robert Stewart, later Robert II, in 1367. It is likely that the tower house of Halkhead was erected in the latter 15th century, when the then John ross became the first Lord Ross of Halkhead.

By the end of the century, a large and impressive tower and courtyard stood here, which developed into a quadrangle by 1634. The tenth Lord Ross was fined for his support of Charles I, and when he died in 1656 his son George fought against the Covenanters, dying in 1681. The male line came to an end in 1754 with the death of the 13th Lord Ross. His daughter and her husband the Boyle Earl of Gl;asgow inherited the house, and had it redesigned by James Playfair in 1782. Subsequently the house was found to be too big for use, and was converted to be part of a mental asylum before demolition. Some old photos that survive suggest that the quadrangle formed the central part of the later mansion.

Mansion Houses of Paisley entry

HES Canmore database entry