Mearns Castle, Scotland

Mearns Castle is a 15th-century tower house located in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. It was built in 1449 by Herbert, Lord Maxwell, and remained with the Maxwell family until it was seized by King James VI. It was later sold to Sir George Maxwell of Nether Mearns and eventually passed to the Shaw-Stewart family. The castle is a Category A listed building and has been restored and converted into a link between two Church of Scotland buildings. It is a four-storey rectangular tower measuring 30 by 40 feet (9.1 by 12.2 m) with walls 10 feet (3.0 m) thick. It has a vaulted basement room and a first-floor hall with a straight mural stair and stone window seats. The castle is located on a rocky knoll and was surrounded by outerworks, including a barmkin and a gatehouse. It is now known as the Maxwell Mearns Castle Church.