Knock Castle, Largs
Encyclopedia
Knock Castle is a private residence on the outskirts of Largs
, on the west coast of Scotland
. It was built by the boat-building Steele family in 1851, with a further wing added in the early twentieth century. The ruins of the seventeenth century Knock Old Castle are within the grounds.
and built in 1851-1852 in a castellated Tudor revival style. it was extended in 1908. It was built for Robert Steele, a Greenock
merchant, and his initials and
crest are carved on the parapets. The new castle is a category A listed building.
in about 1608. The remains of this small mansion or castle stand on the edge of a stream with an extensive view to the west over Arran
and Bute
. It consisted of a rectangular block, with a round tower at the south-west angle, and the remains of another at the north-east angle. The latter is about 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. A courtyard wall has a door in it, and it is possible that buildings abutted this.
A modern parapet with angle turret surmounts this wall, which bears a stone inscribed "Repaired in 1853." This wall also contains stones (not in situ) dated '1603' and '1604', the initials 'I B' being on the latter. The whole building has been restored and, in parts, modernised. The walls are only 0.6 metres (2 ft) thick. No other traces of courtyard wall are visible. Nigel Tranter
gives a similar description in his The Fortified House in Scotland
, and adds that Knock Castle was probably built in the late 16th or early 17th century. The old castle is a category B listed building.
Largs
Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....
, on the west coast of 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 was built by the boat-building Steele family in 1851, with a further wing added in the early twentieth century. The ruins of the seventeenth century Knock Old Castle are within the grounds.
Knock Castle
The new castle was designed by J. T. RocheadJohn Thomas Rochead
John Thomas Rochead was a British architect.He was born and raised in Edinburgh, and worked for a number of years as an apprentice of David Bryce...
and built in 1851-1852 in a castellated Tudor revival style. it was extended in 1908. It was built for Robert Steele, a Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
merchant, and his initials and
crest are carved on the parapets. The new castle is a category A listed building.
Knock Old Castle
Knock Old Castle was mentioned by the cartographer Timothy PontTimothy Pont
Timothy Pont was a Scottish topographer, the first to produce a detailed map of Scotland. Pont's maps are among the earliest surviving to show a European country in minute detail, from an actual survey.-Life:...
in about 1608. The remains of this small mansion or castle stand on the edge of a stream with an extensive view to the west over Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
and Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
. It consisted of a rectangular block, with a round tower at the south-west angle, and the remains of another at the north-east angle. The latter is about 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. A courtyard wall has a door in it, and it is possible that buildings abutted this.
A modern parapet with angle turret surmounts this wall, which bears a stone inscribed "Repaired in 1853." This wall also contains stones (not in situ) dated '1603' and '1604', the initials 'I B' being on the latter. The whole building has been restored and, in parts, modernised. The walls are only 0.6 metres (2 ft) thick. No other traces of courtyard wall are visible. Nigel Tranter
Nigel Tranter
Nigel Tranter OBE was a Scottish historian and author.-Early life:Nigel Tranter was born in Glasgow and educated at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh. He trained as an accountant and worked in Scottish National Insurance Company, founded by his uncle. In 1933 he married May Jean Campbell Grieve...
gives a similar description in his The Fortified House in Scotland
The Fortified House in Scotland
The Fortified House in Scotland is a five-volume book by the Scottish author Nigel Tranter.Written between 1962 and 1970, it covers almost seven hundred buildings in Scotland which fall under the general description of "fortalices, lesser castles, peel towers, keeps and defensible lairds' houses"...
, and adds that Knock Castle was probably built in the late 16th or early 17th century. The old castle is a category B listed building.