Duchal Castle (5 of 5)
This fang of masonry topped bedrock on the south side of Duchal Castle, looking down on the ravine in which runs the Blacketty Water, is thought to be the remains of a keep or tower-house, probably built a century later than the wall of enciente, in the 14th century, but now too dilapidated to date properly.
The rebellion led by the Earl of Lennox and Robert 2nd Lord Lyle in 1489, was vigorously opposed by the young King James IV - probably rather more vigorously than his opponents were expecting! When Lord Lyle was ordered to forfeit his holdings and refused, shutting himself up here within the walls of Duchal Castle, the king came after him!
Accounts vary as to exactly what happened, but it seems certain that the king's great bombard canon Mons Meg, together with another canon that was subsequently named Duchal, were brought here to dig the rebels out of Duchal. Mons Meg was a fearsome weapon, with a calibre of 20 inches and although it could only be fired eight to ten times a day, because of the heat it generated, it could fire a 400 pound projectile up to 2 miles!!
The siege is thought to have been supervised by Sir John Semple, Sheriff of Renfrew, who was charged with providing the oxen needed to haul the artillery into place, and John Sandilands of Hillhouse, who was responsible for obtaining sufficient men from Paisley to level a roadway for the guns. The king himself is believed to have arrived in time to witness the opening of hostilities.
How long those hostilities lasted is also the subject of differing accounts. Some say the defenders surrendered as soon as they saw Mons Meg being hauled into place, other say that Duchal was severely damaged by the bombardment and subsequently had to undergo major repairs.
Robert 2nd Lord Lyle, forfeited the month before the siege in June 1489, was subsequently pardoned and the act of forfeiture was rescinded and annulled by the king and parliament on the 5th February 1489-90, the clerk register being ordered to expunge it from the records. He was at the same time restored to his office of justiciary. There wasn't much disincentive to rebellion in the Middle Ages!
Robert 2nd Lord Lyle was succeeded by his eldest son, Robert 3rd Lord Lyle, who died in 1511, leaving, a son, James, 4th lord, a minor. The king assigned his wardship and marriage to James Bethune, archbishop of Glasgow, whose niece he later married, being the daughter of David Bethune of Criech. He had a son, John, who predeceased him, ending the line of the Lyles of Duchal
In 1544, Duchal Castle was purchased by the Porterfields, who occupied it until 1710 when much of it was pulled down so that its stone could be used to build a new house further down the River Gryffe, which exists to this day as Duchal House.
In 1854 the estate was acquired by the Shaw-Stewarts of Ardgowan for use as a shooting lodge. Duchal was sold in 1910 and again in 1915, when it was purchased by the shipowner Joseph Paton Maclay, 1st Baron Maclay, whose family still occupy the house.
Duchal Castle (5 of 5)
This fang of masonry topped bedrock on the south side of Duchal Castle, looking down on the ravine in which runs the Blacketty Water, is thought to be the remains of a keep or tower-house, probably built a century later than the wall of enciente, in the 14th century, but now too dilapidated to date properly.
The rebellion led by the Earl of Lennox and Robert 2nd Lord Lyle in 1489, was vigorously opposed by the young King James IV - probably rather more vigorously than his opponents were expecting! When Lord Lyle was ordered to forfeit his holdings and refused, shutting himself up here within the walls of Duchal Castle, the king came after him!
Accounts vary as to exactly what happened, but it seems certain that the king's great bombard canon Mons Meg, together with another canon that was subsequently named Duchal, were brought here to dig the rebels out of Duchal. Mons Meg was a fearsome weapon, with a calibre of 20 inches and although it could only be fired eight to ten times a day, because of the heat it generated, it could fire a 400 pound projectile up to 2 miles!!
The siege is thought to have been supervised by Sir John Semple, Sheriff of Renfrew, who was charged with providing the oxen needed to haul the artillery into place, and John Sandilands of Hillhouse, who was responsible for obtaining sufficient men from Paisley to level a roadway for the guns. The king himself is believed to have arrived in time to witness the opening of hostilities.
How long those hostilities lasted is also the subject of differing accounts. Some say the defenders surrendered as soon as they saw Mons Meg being hauled into place, other say that Duchal was severely damaged by the bombardment and subsequently had to undergo major repairs.
Robert 2nd Lord Lyle, forfeited the month before the siege in June 1489, was subsequently pardoned and the act of forfeiture was rescinded and annulled by the king and parliament on the 5th February 1489-90, the clerk register being ordered to expunge it from the records. He was at the same time restored to his office of justiciary. There wasn't much disincentive to rebellion in the Middle Ages!
Robert 2nd Lord Lyle was succeeded by his eldest son, Robert 3rd Lord Lyle, who died in 1511, leaving, a son, James, 4th lord, a minor. The king assigned his wardship and marriage to James Bethune, archbishop of Glasgow, whose niece he later married, being the daughter of David Bethune of Criech. He had a son, John, who predeceased him, ending the line of the Lyles of Duchal
In 1544, Duchal Castle was purchased by the Porterfields, who occupied it until 1710 when much of it was pulled down so that its stone could be used to build a new house further down the River Gryffe, which exists to this day as Duchal House.
In 1854 the estate was acquired by the Shaw-Stewarts of Ardgowan for use as a shooting lodge. Duchal was sold in 1910 and again in 1915, when it was purchased by the shipowner Joseph Paton Maclay, 1st Baron Maclay, whose family still occupy the house.