Airdrie, Monkland House

NS76SE 5 7743 6375.

Monkland House was given its name by Sir James Cleland about the close of the 16th century when the house, which was destroyed by fire in 1700, was built by him. The estate prior to that date (1700) was known as "Pedderslourn". The earliest occupant who can be traced was John Hamilton who obtained a charter confirmed by Queen Mary, dated 5th April, 1554 (NGR NS 7743 6375).

Belongs to period 1542-1700. The ground floor is vaulted and strongly constructed with walls varying from 4-5 feet in thickness. It was built in view of predatory attacks with a strong basement floor, and it is probable that the ground floor windows were originally small, and have been enlarged.

J Knox 1921; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1889

Monkland House has the appearance of considerable antiquity. It is a rectangular building in the Scottish Baronial Style, with circular towers at the NE an SE angles and a square projection at the SW angle - thus forming an L-shaped plan typical of 16th century castellated buildings.

The house is built into a rise in the ground, so that the 1st floor (as seen from the East) is virtually the ground floor on the west. The northern half of the house is a storey lower than the southern, and this may possibly be the result of a fire in this section, and a subsequent lowering of the roof. There is some doubt as to whether the old house was totally destroyed by fire: but Mr J Scotland (architect, 10 Bank St, Airdrie) assures that it was not destroyed, and was repaired after the conflagration. He is also convinced that although there is much restoration work in the building, portion of it (and definitely the cellars) do date considerably - possibly to the 16th century but he did not state definitely. From general appearances there seems little doubt of the antiquity of this House.

Mr Sassoon, the present owner, states that the previous owner had altered the interior of the building considerably, stuccoed the outside of the walk, and removed the dovecot. The walls have since been restored to their natural 'facing'. There was apparently an enceinte wall surrounding a courtyard on the NW of the house, and it is said that a moat surrounded the building precincts. No evidence of this was found at time of investigation.

Of the Dovecot, no trace remains, and little is known of it other than it being a rectangular feature with conical roof, and of similar construction to that of Faskine (Lanark 8 SW 3). It is possibly contemporary with the early house.

Further evidence was not encountered during course of investigation.

(J V Sassoon, Monkland House, Carlisle Rd, Nr Calderbank)

Visited by OS (JLD) 24 October 1952

Converted to an hotel during the 20th century and was later demolished after a further fire. A housing development now occupies the site of the house.

Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 25 January 2006.