In the later half of the 15th century, George Maxwell built the first parts of the castle seen today. This originally consisted of a rectangular tower which housed the main accommodation for the family. King James IV is reputed to have stayed here in 1495, on his way to the Western Isles. At around the same period, a large gatehouse was erected, linked to the tower by a wall.
16th Century Turreted Mansion
In the late 16th century, Sir Patrick Maxwell upgraded the castle and added a turreted mansion to the existing buildings, uniting the tower and gatehouse. Above the main door into the mansion, Sir Patrick’s monogram is cut into the stonework. Inscribed underneath are the words, “the blissings of God be herin”, and the date 1597.
Renaissance Fireplace and Long Gallery
Inside the castle there are numerous rooms to explore connected by narrow winding stairs, although a few parts are closed to the public. On the first floor, a large bright hall with windows on each side contains a magnificent Renaissance style fireplace. This was the main room of the mansion and served as the family dining room.
Immediately above, was the long gallery where people could promenade and where pictures hung on either side. Today, part of it has been hung with interesting pictures of Newark Castle in its early years, together with scenes of old Port Glasgow. This room also contains a bust of John Wood, famous for building the steamship, the Comet.
Castle Bedchambers
The bedchambers were also on this floor, each containing a fireplace and a toilet closet. There is a good example of this, with some of the original fittings still in place, such as pinewood panelling. One of the cupboards originally opened out into a ‘press-bed’. The information poster reports that an Englishman visiting Scotland in 1598 wrote: ‘their bedsteads were then like cubbards in the wall, with doores to be opened and shut at pleasure’.
16th Century Kitchen
The kitchen was built in the 1590s. This was where the food was prepared then cooked over the huge fireplace, while the bread oven was in the corner. There was a stone inlet for water and a trough and drain on the right. A service hatch led through to the passage where food was taken up a stairway to the dining hall above. The remains of the oven can be seen on the outer wall of the castle.
Castle Masonry and Dovecot
The building combines fine Scottish masonry with the later influence of the classical Renaissance style, apparent in the great hall’s fireplace and the detail on some of the doors and windows. The grounds surrounding the castle are beautifully maintained with a well-kept lawn.
In the north-east corner stands a dovecot, part of the earlier construction. At the north side, the castle overlooks the River Clyde with wonderful views across the river to Dumbarton and Cardross.
Maxwell Family
The one-time owners of the castle, the powerful Maxwell family, had a rather colourful reputation with their own share of feuds. The same Patrick who built the 16th century mansion adjoining the castle, is reputed to have been involved in murder, but later became a Justice of the Peace. He was also accused of ill-treating his wife.
Port Glasgow and Merchant Shipping to the Caribbean
One important event changed the area for ever. A George Maxwell was involved in merchant shipping between Scotland and the Caribbean and in 1668 he sold some of his Newark acres to the burgesses of Glasgow.
They were allowed to erect a port, harbour and other facilities next to the castle, making it easier to trade with Glasgow. The sandbanks on the Clyde prohibited many of the ships from sailing right the way up to the city. This led to the area being renamed as New-port Glasgow, eventually becoming known as Port Glasgow, as it still is today.
Newark Castle in the 19th Century
The castle passed from the Maxwell family after Sir Patrick died in 1694 and eventually became the property of different people until 1909. Although none of its subsequent owners lived there, the castle did have one or two tenants and the gardens were let to market gardeners. In the early 1800s, a rope spinner, John Orr, occupied the castle and evidently traded in wild animals from the ships arriving in the harbour.
Now an ancient monument and an ‘A’ Grade Listed Building looked after by Historic Scotland, Newark Castle is worth a visit. Unlike other ruins, the castle still retains many of its passages, rooms and narrow, winding stairways. It is easy to imagine what life in the castle was like from the 15th to 17th centuries and there are printed drawings and information on the walls of several of the rooms. The castle is open from May until September.
Another ancient Scottish stronghold worth visiting on the River Clyde is Dumbarton Castle.
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