The Castles of Scotland

Cowane’s Hospital and Guildhall, Stirling

Stirling & Clackmannanshire: In Old Town of Stirling, on minor roads west of A9, St John Street, by the Church of the Holy Rude.

Private NS 792937 OS: 57 FK8 1ED

OPEN: Venue for weddings, ceilidhs, medieval banquets and concerts. Garden. Coffee shop. Check opening on website.
Tel: 01786 472247 Web: www.cowanes.org.uk

Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall, an atmospheric old building, endowed by John Cowane, a wealthy merchant to care for guild members who had fallen on hard times, in the historic burgh of Stirling.

Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall, Stirling (© Martin Coventry)

Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall (© Martin Coventry)

The hospital, which is a fine edifice, was built in 1639-49 with money from the wealthy Stirling merchant, landlord and money lender, John Cowane, for merchants of the burgh who had fallen on hard times.

Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall (1922)

Statue of John Cowane, the founder of Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall, an atmospheric old building, endowed by John Cowane, a wealthy merchant to care for guild members who had fallen on hard times, in the historic burgh of Stirling.

Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall: statue of John Cowane, who founded the establishment (© Martin Coventry)

Cowane died in 1633, and his painted stature adorns the outside of the building. Cowane was known as Auld Staneybreeks, and was MP for Stirling and also Dean of Guild in 1624.

Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall, Stirling (MacGibbon and Ross)

Plan of garden, Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall, an atmospheric old building, endowed by John Cowane, a wealthy merchant to care for guild members who had fallen on hard times, in the historic burgh of Stirling.

Cowane's Hospital, Stirling: plan of garden (Triggs, 1902)

The building has fine gardens, and the original 17th-century layout and terraces, Dutch parterre and bowling green remain evident.
The hospital was later used as a guildhall, school, epidemic hospital and museum, and to host ceilidhs, banquets and concerts, as well as housing the Family History Project and displays on the building’s history.

Panel on Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall, an atmospheric old building, endowed by John Cowane, a wealthy merchant to care for guild members who had fallen on hard times, in the historic burgh of Stirling.

Cowane's Hospital and Guildhall: panel (© Martin Coventry)

Nearby are also the Church of the Holy Rood and Mar’s Wark, Argyll’s Lodging and Stirling Castle.
Cowane’s House [NS 793939] is on St Mary’s Wynd, and is a town house which dates from the 16th century, and was held by the Cowans.

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