THIS ancient edifice is one of the early residences of the Maxwells of Nether Pollok, and is now part of the combined Keir and Pollok estate.
This branch of the Maxwells is descended from Sir John Maxwell, knight, who in 1270 received the lower division of the Barony of Pollok, or Nether Pollok, from his father, Sir Aymer Maxwell of Maxwell. (1)
The lands of Govan, Schelis, and Haggs, upon which the castle is built, are in the parish of Govan, and were at an early date acquired by the Maxwells, and were, for their convenience, disjoined from the county of Lanark and annexed to that of Renfrew. (2)
The following inscription over the principal door of the castle shows its origin.
:: 1585
NIDOMIN9
AEDES ' STRVXE
RIT ' FRUSTRA ' STRVIS
SR JHON MAXWELL ' OF ' POLLOK KNY
GHT ' AND ' D ' MARGARET ' CONYNGHN
HIS ' WYF ' BIGGET ' THIS ' HOWS .:.
This was the third castle which had been built on different sites by this family, and this SR JHON MAXWELL was the twelfth of Pollok and MARGARET CONYNGHN HIS WYF was the daughter of William Cunningham of Caprington, in Ayrshire. He was married in 1569. Although 1585 was the date of the commencement of the building, it does not seem to have been completed for some time after, for we find Sir John, under date January 1587, writing from the "Haggis," informing his "Rycht honorabill and weilbeluifit" father-in-law that it was all finished but the "reparraling within, quhilk is na lytill mater," and requesting the loan of three hundred merks to enable him to do this, adding, "I aschame that my howis sowld stand lyik ane twme Kirne being sa neir a point." (3) He probably got the money, for the castle was soon afterwards finished and became his principal residence.
Haggs was afterwards used as the jointure house of the family, and at the beginning of last century was pronounced by Hamilton of Wishaw, who was the great authority at that time on gentlemen's seats, to be a "tolerable house."
From the middle of last century it was allowed gradually to fall into decay, and after being almost in ruins it was, some years ago, restored to its present condition by the late Sir John Maxwell, Bart. It is now the residence of Mr. John Crum of Glasgow, a son of the late Mr. John Crum of Thornliebank, who long resided at Auldhouse in this neighbourhood.
(1) Crauford.
(2) Hamilton of Wishaw.
(3) Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok.
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