Hamilton, Lanarkshire Scotland

(View over Hamilton from Chatelherault)

Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and lies 12 miles south-east of Glasgow. The town was originally known as Cadzow or Cadyou and during the Scottish wars of Independence, the Hamilton Family initially supported the English Cause, then changed their allegiance to Robert the Bruce, and following Bannockburn, ceded their lands at Bothwell to him. For their loyalty they were given some of the forfeited lands of the Comyn family in Dalserf and later the Barony and lands of Cadzow, which eventually became the town of Hamilton. The town was renamed at the time of James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, who was married to Princess Mary, the daughter of James II of Scotland.

The Hamilton Family constructed many iconic buildings within the town the Hamilton Mausoleum (burial place of the Dukes of Hamilton), which stands in Strathclyde Park and has the longest echo of any building in the world, as well their residence at Hamilton Palace. The Palace was the largest non-royal residence in the world and was built in 1695, however it had to be demolished in 1921 due to mining works and subsidence.

(Hamilton Mausoleum)

(Hamilton Palace circa 1916)

Other historic buildings in Hamilton include the Hamilton Old Parish Church, completed in 1734 and was the only church to be completed by William Adam, as well as the Hamilton Town Hall and Town House. The Town Hall although looks like one building, was actually completed in 21 stages and recently underwent a sympathetic restoration which was completed in 2002. The original library which is based there, was opened in 1907 by Andrew Carnegie. The adjacent town house offices were opened by King George V in 1914 and the actual town hall finished the project in 1928.

(Hamilton Old Parish Church)

(Hamilton Town Hall & Town House)

Also built for the Hamilton Family was their country estate at Chatelherault, beside the River Avon. This is where Cadzow Castle ruins now lie and also the restored building of the Hunting Lodge.

The lodge was designed by William Adam and completed in 1734. It comprises two pavilions linked by a gateway. The north facade was visible from the palace and forms the front of the building. To the rear are formal parterre gardens. The buildings provided kennels, stables and accommodation for hunting parties returning from the woodlands to the south. Adam jokingly referred to his creation as 'The Dogg Kennel'. An avenue of lime trees linked the lodge and the palace, formerly located in Hamilton.

In the 20th century, the palace was demolished and the ground in front of the lodge was excavated for sand quarrying. The resulting subsidence has created a noticeably lopsided feel in the lodge: coins will roll across the floor, and many visitors report feeling unbalanced and ill. The quarrying was halted in the 1970s, following the death of the 14th Duke. The High and Low parks of Hamilton were given to the nation in lieu of death duties. Historic Scotland began renovating the lodge in the late 1970s, including the fine Georgian plasterwork, and a visitor centre was built to the rear. The lodge and park are now managed by South Lanarkshire Council.

The ruins of Cadzow Castle lie above the gorge of the Avon Water, which runs to the west of the lodge. The bulk of the park lies along the Avon gorge, with woodland walks and cycle routes. A herd of Cadzow cattle live in the fields overlooked by the hunting lodge. This apparently unique breed have white coats and long horns.

(Central Entrance to Courtyard at Chatelherault)

(Left side of the Hunting Lodge)

(Right hand side of Hunting Lodge)

The Low Parks Museum, which is also based near to where the old Palace was based, was an old 16th Century inn and a staging post for journey's between Glasgow and Edinburgh. This is the oldest building that was built by the Hamilton's and still stands on the edge of the Palace grounds. Located nearby to the Museum was the Barracks which housed the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and home of the 1st Battalion of the Regiment. The Museum also houses Regimental Militaria from the Regiment.