Lee Castle, South Lanarkshire
Encyclopedia
Lee Castle, also known as The Lee, is a castellated mansion in Auchenglen, a branch of the Clyde Valley
in South Lanarkshire
, Scotland. It is located 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) south of Braidwood
, and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north-west of Lanark
. Lee was the seat of the Lockharts of Lee
from its establishment in the 13th century until 1919, though the present house is the result of rebuilding in the 19th century.
The house is protected as a category B listed building, and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
, the national listing of significant gardens.
(1300–1371), fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence
, and afterward accompanied Sir James Douglas
in his attempt to carry the heart of Robert the Bruce to the Holy Land in 1330. Following the death of Sir James Douglas in battle with the Moors in Spain, Sir Simon carried the Bruce's heart back to Scotland for burial at Melrose Abbey
. He is said to have subsequently added the heart and fetterlock to the family coat of arms. He also acquired the "Lee Penny", an amulet or touch piece said to have healing properties, and which remains in the family's possession.
Sir William Lockhart of Lee
(1621–1675) fought for the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
, but switched sides, and later married the niece of Oliver Cromwell
. Lockhart was appointed Cromwell's commissioner for the administration of justice in Scotland, in 1652. He also served as English ambassador at the French court in 1656. His brother George Lockhart
was appointed Lord Advocate
, and he purchased the Lanarkshire estates of the Earl of Carnwath
. Both Lee and Carnwath estates were inherited by his son Sir George Lockhart of Lee (1673–1731). He acted as a commissioner for the Act of Union
between England and Scotland in 1707, but later adopted the Jacobite
cause. He was involved in the Jacobite Rising of 1715
but escaped serious punishment. George's grandson, another George, fought with the Jacobites in the 1745 Rising
, and afterwards went into exile. This George's younger brother James
also went overseas, fighting in the Austrian army during the Seven Years' War
. He inherited the Lee estates by staging the death of his traitorous older brother, and was made a Count of the Holy Roman Empire in 1782. His nephew, Alexander Lockhart of Lee, member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed
, was made a baronet
in 1806.
By this time, the parklands around Lee Castle had been laid out, as recorded on William Roy
's maps of the mid 18th century, although the form of the house at this time is unknown. Sir Charles Lockhart, 2nd Baronet (1799–1832), built a new house at Lee in 1817, but shortly after his death Sir Norman Lockhart, 3rd Baronet (1802–1849), commissioned James Gillespie Graham
to design a much larger house. Work began in 1834, incorporating the earlier building, and continued until 1845. The 5th baronet made changes to the parklands in the later 19th century, but on his death in 1919 the baronetcy became extinct. In 1948 the house and estate were sold out of the family, and were later split up through sales in the 1970s. The feudal barony of Lee was granted to a later owner, Mr Alvis, who carried out some restoration to the house. In 2004 the house, along with 250 acres (101.2 ha) and the feudal barony, was put up for sale on the internet site eBay
, although this was unsuccessful and the house was later sold to an American buyer.
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
in South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, Scotland. It is located 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) south of Braidwood
Braidwood, South Lanarkshire
Braidwood is a small village near Carluke, in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The medieval barony of Braidwood included the Tower of Hallbar.Braidwood House, former seat of Lord Clydesmuir, is one of the major local landmarks...
, and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north-west of Lanark
Lanark
Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade"....
. Lee was the seat of the Lockharts of Lee
Lockharts of Lee
The Lockharts of Lee are a Lanarkshire family that trace their descent from Sir Simon Locard...
from its establishment in the 13th century until 1919, though the present house is the result of rebuilding in the 19th century.
The house is protected as a category B listed building, and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland is a listing of gardens and designed landscapes of national artistic and/or historical significance, in Scotland. The Inventory was originally compiled in 1987, although it is a continually evolving list...
, the national listing of significant gardens.
History
In 1272, William Locard was granted the feudal barony of Lee. His son, Sir Simon LocardSimon Locard
Sir Symon Locard, 2nd of Lee was a Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He accompanied Sir James Douglas in their curtailed attempt to carry the heart of Robert the Bruce to the Holy Land in 1330.-Family:...
(1300–1371), fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
, and afterward accompanied Sir James Douglas
James Douglas, Lord of Douglas
Sir James Douglas , , was a Scottish soldier and knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence.-Early life:...
in his attempt to carry the heart of Robert the Bruce to the Holy Land in 1330. Following the death of Sir James Douglas in battle with the Moors in Spain, Sir Simon carried the Bruce's heart back to Scotland for burial at Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland...
. He is said to have subsequently added the heart and fetterlock to the family coat of arms. He also acquired the "Lee Penny", an amulet or touch piece said to have healing properties, and which remains in the family's possession.
Sir William Lockhart of Lee
William Lockhart of Lee
Sir William Lockhart of Lee , after fighting on the side of Charles I in the English Civil War, attached himself to Oliver Cromwell, whose niece he married, and who later appointed Lockhart commissioner for the administration of justice in Scotland in 1652...
(1621–1675) fought for the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, but switched sides, and later married the niece of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
. Lockhart was appointed Cromwell's commissioner for the administration of justice in Scotland, in 1652. He also served as English ambassador at the French court in 1656. His brother George Lockhart
George Lockhart (advocate)
Sir George Lockhart of Carnwath was a Scottish lawyer.The son of Sir James Lockhart of Lee, laird of Lee, he was admitted as an advocate in 1656. He was knighted in 1663, and was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in 1672. He was celebrated for his persuasive eloquence...
was appointed Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
, and he purchased the Lanarkshire estates of the Earl of Carnwath
Earl of Carnwath
The title Earl of Carnwath was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1639 for the 2nd Lord Dalzell. His father, Sir Robert Dalzell, had been created Lord Dalzell in 1628. The 5th Earl was attainted and the peerage forfeit in 1716, due to the Lord Carnwath's Jacobitism and support for the Fifteen,...
. Both Lee and Carnwath estates were inherited by his son Sir George Lockhart of Lee (1673–1731). He acted as a commissioner for the Act of Union
Acts of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
between England and Scotland in 1707, but later adopted the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
cause. He was involved in the Jacobite Rising of 1715
Jacobite Rising of 1715
The Jacobite rising of 1715, often referred to as The 'Fifteen, was the attempt by James Francis Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart.-Background:...
but escaped serious punishment. George's grandson, another George, fought with the Jacobites in the 1745 Rising
Jacobite Rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745, often referred to as "The 'Forty-Five," was the attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart. The rising occurred during the War of the Austrian Succession when most of the British Army was on the European continent...
, and afterwards went into exile. This George's younger brother James
James Lockhart
James Lockhart of Lee and Carnwath, Count Lockhart-Wischeart of the Holy Roman Empire, , was a Scottish aristocrat with a successful military career.-Early years:...
also went overseas, fighting in the Austrian army during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. He inherited the Lee estates by staging the death of his traitorous older brother, and was made a Count of the Holy Roman Empire in 1782. His nephew, Alexander Lockhart of Lee, member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, was made a baronet
Lockhart Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Lockhart, one in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Both creations are extinct....
in 1806.
By this time, the parklands around Lee Castle had been laid out, as recorded on William Roy
William Roy
Major-General William Roy FRS was a Scottish military engineer, surveyor, and antiquarian. He was an innovator who applied new scientific discoveries and newly emerging technologies to the accurate geodetic mapping of Great Britain....
's maps of the mid 18th century, although the form of the house at this time is unknown. Sir Charles Lockhart, 2nd Baronet (1799–1832), built a new house at Lee in 1817, but shortly after his death Sir Norman Lockhart, 3rd Baronet (1802–1849), commissioned 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...
to design a much larger house. Work began in 1834, incorporating the earlier building, and continued until 1845. The 5th baronet made changes to the parklands in the later 19th century, but on his death in 1919 the baronetcy became extinct. In 1948 the house and estate were sold out of the family, and were later split up through sales in the 1970s. The feudal barony of Lee was granted to a later owner, Mr Alvis, who carried out some restoration to the house. In 2004 the house, along with 250 acres (101.2 ha) and the feudal barony, was put up for sale on the internet site eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, although this was unsuccessful and the house was later sold to an American buyer.
External links
- Lee Castle website
- Lee Castle, Lanark Scotland, American Clan Lockhart Society