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Lews Castle

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Lews Castle
The Castle
Built1844-1851
Built forJames Matheson, 1st Baronet
ArchitectCharles Wilson
OwnerComhairle nan Eilean Siar
Listed Building – Category A
Lews Castle is located in Outer Hebrides
Lews Castle
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

  1. ^ "Charles Wilson". Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1840–1980. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  2. ^ "Heritage Lottery Fund grant for Lews Castle brings economic optimism to the Hebrides". Heritage Lottery Fund. 22 November 2011.
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