Lews Castle

Lews Castle
Lews Castle
	The Castle & Sea Gate Lodge (right)
Coordinates	58°12′42″N 6°23′40″W / 58.21157°N 6.39442°W
Built	1844–1851
Built for	Sir James Matheson, 1st Baronet
Architect	Charles Wilson
Owner	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Listed Building – Category A
Designated	25 March 1971
Reference no.	LB18677
	Location in the Outer Hebrides

Lews Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Leòdhais) is a Victorian era castle located west of the town of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. It was built in the years 1844–51 as a country house for Sir James Matheson who had bought the whole island a few years previously with his fortune from the Chinese opium trade. It was designed by the Glasgow architect Charles Wilson.^[1]

In 1918, the Lews Estate, including the castle, was bought by industrialist Lord Leverhulme from the Matheson family. He gave the castle to the people of Stornoway parish in 1923.

During the Second World War the Castle was taken over as accommodation for air and ground crew of 700 Naval Air Squadron, which operated a detachment of six Supermarine Walrus aircraft from a slipway at Cuddy Point in the Grounds. The base was referred to as HMS Mentor.

After the war, the Castle was used for accommodation for students of Lews Castle College in the 1950s. After the accommodation closed, the building was left disused for several decades.

The building, which is protected as a category A listed building,^[2] is now owned by the local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. On 22 November 2011 Lews Castle was awarded £4.6 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable it to be converted into a bilingual museum and cultural centre. In 2016, the ground floor of the castle, including a restored ballroom and a cafe, reopened to the public. In 2017, Natural Retreats, a luxury holiday property company, opened apartments in the castle.^[3]

References

^ "Charles Wilson". Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1840–1980. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
^ Historic Environment Scotland. "LEWS CASTLE (Category A Listed Building) (LB18677)". Retrieved 14 March 2019.
^ "Heritage Lottery Fund grant for Lews Castle brings economic optimism to the Hebrides". Heritage Lottery Fund. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2011.

External links

Lews Castle's official website
Overview of Lews Castle from The Gazetteer for Scotland
History from Stornoway Historical Society

[1] "Charles Wilson". Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1840–1980. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2010.

[2] Historic Environment Scotland. "LEWS CASTLE (Category A Listed Building) (LB18677)". Retrieved 14 March 2019.

[3] "Heritage Lottery Fund grant for Lews Castle brings economic optimism to the Hebrides". Heritage Lottery Fund. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2011.

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v t e Lewis and Harris
Outer Hebrides Scotland
Inhabited islands	Lewis and Harris Great Bernera Scalpay
Other islands	Bayble Island Eilean Chaluim Chille Eilean Chearstaidh Eilean Liubhaird Eilean Mhealasta Ensay Fuaigh Beag Fuaigh Mòr Gasker Hermetray Killegray North Rona Pabbay of Harris Pabaigh Mòr Scarp Seaforth Sgeotasaigh Soay Beag Soay Mòr Stockinish Sula Sgeir Taransay Vacsay
Settlements	Stornoway Adabroc Aignish Aird Ardroil Arnol Baile an Truiseil Balallan Barvas Bayble Borghastan Borsham Borve, Harris Borve, Lewis Bragar Branahuie Breaclete Breasclete Breivig Brenish Brue Cabharstadh Calbost Callanish Carloway Coll Cross Eorodale Eoropie Fivepenny Flesherin Garenin Garrabost Gravir Gress Habost Holm Hushinish Knock Laxdale Leurbost Leverburgh Lionel Lingarabay Marybank Melbost New Tolsta Newmarket Newvalley North Dell Orinsay Parkend Portnaguran Portvoller Rèinigeadal Rodel Shawbost Skigersta Shulishader South Dell South Galson Swainbost Tarbert Tolsta Chaolais Timsgarry Tong
Districts	Back Ness North Lochs Park Point Uig West Side
Geographical features	Butt of Lewis Clisham The Minch Eilean Glas
Historical sites	Callanish Stones Clach an Trushal and Steinacleit Dun Carloway Dùn Èistean Lews Castle St Clement's Church Teampall Mholuaidh

v t e Settlements and places of interest in the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar)
on Lewis and Harris	Stornoway Aird Ardvourlie Castle Back Balallan Barvas Bayble Bragar Breaclete (Great Bernera) Brenish Carloway Garrabost Ness Portnaguran Portvoller Shawbost Skigersta Shulishader Tong Valtos/Uig Tarbert Leverburgh Luskentyre Northton Rodel
on North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist	Lochmaddy Sollas Balivanich Linaclate Lochboisdale Balla (Eriskay) Daliburgh Geirinis Howmore Stoneybridge
on Barra	Castlebay Northbay
Places of interest	Amhuinnsuidhe Castle An Lanntair Arnol Blackhouse Barra Airport Callanish Stones Dun Carloway Garenin Golden Road Kisimul Castle Lewis Loom Centre Lews Castle St. Clement's Church St. Kilda St Moluag's Church