slagheap
Castle Semple: Home Sweet Home
After searching for photos and info on the internet, re: Castle Semple, (at least more info than I already have) I found the following info at renfrewshire.gov.uk .... and similar info as well at a few other private web pages:
"Castle Semple estate, on the north bank of what is now called Castle Semple Loch, belonged to the family of Semple. In 1504 John, the first Lord Semple, built the Collegiate Church, the ruins of which can still be seen. This church was also one of Scotland's earliest schools. In 1727 Hugh, the eleventh Lord Semple sold the estate to Colonel William Macdowall, who demolished the old castle and built a mansion-house. Castle Semple House was the centre of a thriving estate, with a home farm, workers' houses, stables, kennels and other buildings. The house was destroyed by fire in 1924".
There is only a slight problem with the information. My family, at least until my great grandmother's death, leased and lived on the entire estate, with several generations of children growing up there. The 11th Lord Semple sold the Castle because he was financially strapped for money; having squandered most of the family cash on "wild living and strong drink" (straight from my great-grandmother's mouth to God's ears!). Although Colonel MacDowell built the house in this photo after demolishing the real Castle, the new digs were still referred to as "Castle Semple" although inaccurate. My great grandparents, Jane Miller MacLachlan Evans & Samuel Evans were the last family lease-holders of the property (but not the first) and although there was a fire while they occupied it, the house was not destroyed. It did sustain fire damage but not destruction. My great-grandfather died shortly afterwards but until her death in the post war years my great-grandmother still lived in the Castle Semple House from spring until autumn, wintering in Glasgow with her daughter. True, she did not live in the upper levels which were fire damaged, but rather the basement level "servants quarters" which were basically untouched by the fire and according to her, far more cozy and comfortable than the upper levels of the house.
Castle Semple: Home Sweet Home
After searching for photos and info on the internet, re: Castle Semple, (at least more info than I already have) I found the following info at renfrewshire.gov.uk .... and similar info as well at a few other private web pages:
"Castle Semple estate, on the north bank of what is now called Castle Semple Loch, belonged to the family of Semple. In 1504 John, the first Lord Semple, built the Collegiate Church, the ruins of which can still be seen. This church was also one of Scotland's earliest schools. In 1727 Hugh, the eleventh Lord Semple sold the estate to Colonel William Macdowall, who demolished the old castle and built a mansion-house. Castle Semple House was the centre of a thriving estate, with a home farm, workers' houses, stables, kennels and other buildings. The house was destroyed by fire in 1924".
There is only a slight problem with the information. My family, at least until my great grandmother's death, leased and lived on the entire estate, with several generations of children growing up there. The 11th Lord Semple sold the Castle because he was financially strapped for money; having squandered most of the family cash on "wild living and strong drink" (straight from my great-grandmother's mouth to God's ears!). Although Colonel MacDowell built the house in this photo after demolishing the real Castle, the new digs were still referred to as "Castle Semple" although inaccurate. My great grandparents, Jane Miller MacLachlan Evans & Samuel Evans were the last family lease-holders of the property (but not the first) and although there was a fire while they occupied it, the house was not destroyed. It did sustain fire damage but not destruction. My great-grandfather died shortly afterwards but until her death in the post war years my great-grandmother still lived in the Castle Semple House from spring until autumn, wintering in Glasgow with her daughter. True, she did not live in the upper levels which were fire damaged, but rather the basement level "servants quarters" which were basically untouched by the fire and according to her, far more cozy and comfortable than the upper levels of the house.