Lews Castle

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]

Lews Castle
The Castle
Coordinates58.21157°N 6.39442°W / 58.21157; -6.39442
Built1844-1851
Built forSir James Matheson, 1st Baronet
ArchitectCharles Wilson
OwnerComhairle nan Eilean Siar
Listed Building – Category A
Designated25 March 1971
Reference no.LB18677
Location in the Outer Hebrides

In 1918, the Lewis 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, who 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 reopened to the public, including a restored ballroom and a cafe. In 2017, Natural Retreats, a luxury holiday property company, opened apartments in the castle.[3]

References
  1. "Charles Wilson". Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1840–1980. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  2. Historic Environment Scotland. "LEWS CASTLE  (Category A) (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.
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