Cadzow Castle (5)
We are told by some sources that this was "the site of an occasional residence of David I and his successors, down to Robert the Bruce." I guess the truth of that depends on your definition of the word site and how extensive an area it can cover! In my opinion, the statement is incorrect. No evidence of the castle site being used before the current castle was built has been found by excavation. However, where there's smoke there's usually fire and the story of an occasional Royal residence in the vicinity is probably based on metamorphosed fact!
The land south of here rises steadily, and although it is all farmed these days, with a scattering of small towns and villages, more than a thousand years ago, when this was part of the kingdom of Strathclyde, this country would have been forested, rising to moorland further south. Consequently, the ancient kings of Strathclyde are believed to have had a hunting lodge at Cadzow, prior to that kingdom's assimilation into Scotland in the 12th century. The site of that hunting lodge, which was probably the same as that used until the time of Robert Bruce, is not known, but there are theories.
The easiest idea of course is to attach the legend to the existing site and say the hunting lodge was here, but as I have said, there is no archaeological evidence for that. There are three other sites nearby, that may be Cadzow's predecessor.
There is reported to have been an old house three-quarters of a mile north-west of here, at a site now covered by modern housing and a residential street called Fergus Gardens. Canmore states that "Local authorities consider that the predecessor of Cadzow Castle stood on an eminence by the Coven Burn. The hill is occupied by a modern house called Castlehill." Whatever antiquity may have been here is long gone.
The next possibility lies about 350 yards south of here. It is an earthwork, perched on the lip of the Avon gorge. There is no evidence as to how old it is, other than the discovery a Roman coin in it some years ago. It might be Iron Age.
The last possibility, and my favourite, is a motte down beside the Clyde, just under 2 miles north of here. It is hidden in woodland beside the M74, just south of the northbound Roadchef Services! It stands very close to where the Dukes of Hamilton built their palace - which may not be coincidental.
Wherever the royal hunting lodge may have been, the lands of Cadzow appear to have made their way into the hands of the Comyns in the 13th century and following their forfeiture by Robert Bruce, they were granted by him to the Hamiltons.
Cadzow Castle (5)
We are told by some sources that this was "the site of an occasional residence of David I and his successors, down to Robert the Bruce." I guess the truth of that depends on your definition of the word site and how extensive an area it can cover! In my opinion, the statement is incorrect. No evidence of the castle site being used before the current castle was built has been found by excavation. However, where there's smoke there's usually fire and the story of an occasional Royal residence in the vicinity is probably based on metamorphosed fact!
The land south of here rises steadily, and although it is all farmed these days, with a scattering of small towns and villages, more than a thousand years ago, when this was part of the kingdom of Strathclyde, this country would have been forested, rising to moorland further south. Consequently, the ancient kings of Strathclyde are believed to have had a hunting lodge at Cadzow, prior to that kingdom's assimilation into Scotland in the 12th century. The site of that hunting lodge, which was probably the same as that used until the time of Robert Bruce, is not known, but there are theories.
The easiest idea of course is to attach the legend to the existing site and say the hunting lodge was here, but as I have said, there is no archaeological evidence for that. There are three other sites nearby, that may be Cadzow's predecessor.
There is reported to have been an old house three-quarters of a mile north-west of here, at a site now covered by modern housing and a residential street called Fergus Gardens. Canmore states that "Local authorities consider that the predecessor of Cadzow Castle stood on an eminence by the Coven Burn. The hill is occupied by a modern house called Castlehill." Whatever antiquity may have been here is long gone.
The next possibility lies about 350 yards south of here. It is an earthwork, perched on the lip of the Avon gorge. There is no evidence as to how old it is, other than the discovery a Roman coin in it some years ago. It might be Iron Age.
The last possibility, and my favourite, is a motte down beside the Clyde, just under 2 miles north of here. It is hidden in woodland beside the M74, just south of the northbound Roadchef Services! It stands very close to where the Dukes of Hamilton built their palace - which may not be coincidental.
Wherever the royal hunting lodge may have been, the lands of Cadzow appear to have made their way into the hands of the Comyns in the 13th century and following their forfeiture by Robert Bruce, they were granted by him to the Hamiltons.