Johnstone Castle
Encyclopedia
Johnstone Castle is a structure and former mansion in the town of Johnstone
in Renfrewshire
, Scotland
.
It belonged to the Houstouns of Milliken, who acquired the estate of Easter Cochrane in 1773. The original structure was substantially enlarged in 1771 and 1812 by George Houstoun, who had the structure remodelled in a castellated style complete with a turret at the left hand of the front elevation, possibly by the architect James Gillespie Graham
.
The most notable features were barrel vault
ed rooms in the ground floor. Externally in addition to the battlemented decoration there was a rope-styled string course. Although the castle and policies were considered particularly picturesque, the continued growth of the town of Johnstone reduced its size and the estate had largely disappeared by the start of the 20th century. Much of the house was demolished in 1950, and most of the remainder of the grounds was purchased by the local authority for housing in 1956.
Today all that remains is the central square tower along with a crow-stepped bartizan
ed section of an older date. The tower is protected as category B listed building.
composer Chopin in 1848. He had been invited by Anne Houstoun, wife of the then-laird Ludovic, as part of his Scottish tour. Although like many others he was charmed by the estate and grounds, the weather deteriorated, and he wrote to his friend Grzymala Wojciech:
To compound his misery he was also involved in a potentially fatal accident. Out riding in a two-horse carriage, one of the animals reared and broke loose from the reins with Chopin still inside. The carriage hit a tree and smashed into pieces, leaving the composer to climb free of the wreckage.
Johnstone
Johnstone is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire and larger historic county of the same name in the west central Lowlands of Scotland.The town lies three miles west of neighbouring Paisley and twelve miles west of the centre of the city of Glasgow...
in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
It belonged to the Houstouns of Milliken, who acquired the estate of Easter Cochrane in 1773. The original structure was substantially enlarged in 1771 and 1812 by George Houstoun, who had the structure remodelled in a castellated style complete with a turret at the left hand of the front elevation, possibly by the architect James Gillespie Graham
James Gillespie Graham
James Gillespie Graham was a Scottish architect, born in Dunblane. He is most notable for his work in the Scottish baronial style, as at Ayton Castle, and he worked in the Gothic Revival style, in which he was heavily influenced by the work of Augustus Pugin...
.
The most notable features were barrel vault
Barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
ed rooms in the ground floor. Externally in addition to the battlemented decoration there was a rope-styled string course. Although the castle and policies were considered particularly picturesque, the continued growth of the town of Johnstone reduced its size and the estate had largely disappeared by the start of the 20th century. Much of the house was demolished in 1950, and most of the remainder of the grounds was purchased by the local authority for housing in 1956.
Today all that remains is the central square tower along with a crow-stepped bartizan
Bartizan
A bartizan or guerite is an overhanging, wall-mounted turret projecting from the walls of medieval fortifications from the early 14th century up to the 16th century. They protect a warder and enable him to see around him...
ed section of an older date. The tower is protected as category B listed building.
Frédéric Chopin
Johnstone Castle's principal claim to fame is a visit by the PolishPoles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
composer Chopin in 1848. He had been invited by Anne Houstoun, wife of the then-laird Ludovic, as part of his Scottish tour. Although like many others he was charmed by the estate and grounds, the weather deteriorated, and he wrote to his friend Grzymala Wojciech:
The weather has changed, and it is dreadful outside. I am feeling sick and depressed, and everyone wears me down with their excessive attentions.
To compound his misery he was also involved in a potentially fatal accident. Out riding in a two-horse carriage, one of the animals reared and broke loose from the reins with Chopin still inside. The carriage hit a tree and smashed into pieces, leaving the composer to climb free of the wreckage.