Lews Castle

Lews Castle
The Castle
Coordinates	58°12′42″N 6°23′40″E / 58.21157°N 6.39442°E / 58.21157; 6.39442Coordinates: 58°12′42″N 6°23′40″E / 58.21157°N 6.39442°E / 58.21157; 6.39442
Built	1844-1851
Built for	James Matheson, 1st Baronet
Architect	Charles Wilson
Owner	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Listed Building – Category A
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 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 World War II 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 also used for accommodation for students of Lews Castle College in the 1950s.

Today the building is owned by the local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and is protected as a category A listed building. Lews Castle was awarded £4.6 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund, on 22 November 2011, to enable it to be converted into a bilingual museum and cultural centre. The main part of the Castle is now part of Natural Retreats.^[2]

References

External links

• Overview of Lews Castle from The Gazetteer for Scotland
• History from Stornoway Historical Society

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 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 Breibhig Brenish Brue Cabharstadh Calbost Callanish Carloway Coll Fivepenny Flesherin Garenin Garrabost Gravir Gress Habost Holm Hushinish Leurbost Leverburgh Lionel Lingerbay Marybank Melbost New Tolsta Newmarket Newvalley Ohagro Parkend Portnaguran Portvoller Rèinigeadal Rodel Shawbost Skigersta Shulishader 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 Teampull Mholuaidh

Settlements and places of interest in the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar)
on Lewis and Harris	Stornoway Aird 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 Moluag's Church