Stanley Castle

Stanley Castle is a medieval castle located in the town of Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but it is believed to have been built in the early 15th century when the land passed from the Dennistouns to the Maxwells of Calderwood. The castle was sold to Lady Ross of Hawhead in 1629 and later passed to the Boyle family in the 18th century. It was used as a schoolroom for local children, but fell into disrepair and was abandoned by the 19th century. In 1838, the Earl of Glasgow sold the castle and surrounding land to the Paisley Water Company, which built a reservoir on the site. The castle is now partially submerged by the reservoir. It is a four-story L-shaped tower house made of local freestone and is thought to have originally included a garret. It was accessed through a single door on the east side and had a spiral staircase in the northeast corner leading to the upper floors. The ground floor contained two cellars and the first floor had a kitchen, a great hall, and a private cabinet. The second and third floors each had two bedrooms and an additional room, all with privies and fireplaces. It is possible that there were attic rooms in the main block, as the Hearth Tax return for 1691 lists eleven hearths for the castle.