Bencloich
Tower House (Medieval)(Possible)
Site Name Bencloich
Classification Tower House (Medieval)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Bencloich Castle; Bencloich Mains
Canmore ID 45175
Site Number NS67NW 10
NGR NS 6395 7846
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/45175
- Council East Dunbartonshire
- Parish Campsie
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Strathkelvin
- Former County Stirlingshire
NS67NW 10 6395 7846.
Bencloich Tower was built by Sir James Livingstone, who acquired the lands about 1667. It stood on a well-chosen site; the tower and offices occupied what was then a level platform of sufficient size to accommodate them all. There was a gorge on either side, formed by the Ferret or Glorat Burn; there are still trees growing on the Ferret Brae, near the site of this tower. Debris from the 18th - 19th century lime workings covers parts of the platform where the tower stood, on a spot near the old pit, situated just W of the Ferret Burn. The tower remained pretty entire until about 1804, when the material was used to build new steadings and cottages.
J Cameron 1892.
NS 6395 7846. There is no local knowledge of the site of this tower. The site indicated fits the description given by Cameron, and is possibly where the tower stood. This area, and the adjacent hillside, is covered by the spoil heaps of old limestone workings.
Visited by OS (R D) 6 May 1966 and (J L D) 26 March 1957.
Field Visit (May 1977)
Bencloich NS 639 784 NS67NW 10
There are no visible remains of this 17th-century tower which was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century.
RCAHMS 1982, visited May 1977
(Cameron 1892, 188-91)
