The Castles of Scotland by Martin Coventry | Goblinshead | A comprehensive guide to 4,100 castles, towers, historic houses, stately homes and family lands
The Castles of Scotland by Martin Coventry | Goblinshead | A comprehensive guide to 4,100 castles, towers, historic houses, stately homes and family lands
The Castles of Scotland
The Castles of Scotland 

Argyll’s Lodging, Stirling

Stirling & Clackmannanshire: In Stirling, at the top of Castle Wynd, on minor roads west of A9, near Stirling Castle.

 

HES   NS 793938   OS: 57   FK8 1EG

 

OPEN: Currently closed (02/04/19) until further notice for essential maintenance.

 

Previously, tickets are purchased in conjunction with a Stirling Castle Admission Ticket. Weddings.
Tel: 01786 450000   Web: www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk 

Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the historic burgh. Argyll's Lodging, Stirling (© Martin Coventry)

Located on the way up to Stirling Castle in the historic old burgh, Argyll’s Lodging is a fine and well-preserved 17th-century town house, although part dates from the 16th century, described as the most important survining townhouse of its period in Scotland. The Lodging gives an excellent impression of how the nobles lived in early modern Scotland and has been furnished in period style.

Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the historic burgh. Argyll's Lodging, Stirling (1922)
Courtyard of Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the histor Argyll's Lodging, Stirling: courtyard (© Martin Coventry)

Gabled blocks with corbiestepped gables and dormer windows surround a courtyard, while one side is enclosed by a wall with a gate. Semi-polygonal stair-towers in the courtyard are crowned by conical roofs. There are fine views from the Lodging and a walled garden.

High Dining Room, Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the h Argyll's Lodging, Stirling: high dining room (© Martin Coventry)
High Dining Room, Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the h Argyll's Lodging, Stirling: High Dining Room, original wall decoration (© Martin Coventry)
Carved fireplace, High Dining Room, Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirli Argyll's Lodging, Stirling: High Dining Room, fireplace (© Martin Coventry)

The kitchen is in a vaulted chamber in one block with a grand stair to the main chambers on the first floor. Many of the rooms within the lodging have been restored and furnished in 17th-century style. Painted decoration survives in the High Dining Room, and the both it and the Drawing Room have grand carved fireplaces. The bedroom and study are both atmospheric.

Drawing Room, Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the histo Argyll's Lodging, Stirling: drawing room (© Martin Coventry)
Fireplace, drawing Room, Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle i Argyll's Lodging, Stirling: drawing room, fireplace (© Martin Coventry)
Bedroom, Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the historic b Argyll's Lodging, Stirling: bedroom (© Martin Coventry)

The property was owned by the Traills, merchants in Stirling, and then the Erskines, and they had a town house. The Lodging was rebuilt and remodelled in Renaissance style by Sir William Alexander of Menstrie, 1st Earl of Stirling and Viscount Canada, but passed to the Campbell Earls of Argyll after Alexander became bankrupt. Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, who was executed for treason in 1685 after leading a rising against James VII, used the Lodging. The Duke of Cumberland stayed here during the Jacobite Rising in 1745.

Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the historic burgh. Argyll's Lodging, Stirling (1922)
Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the historic burgh. Argyll's Lodging, Stirling (MacGibbon and Ross)

The Duke of Argyll owned the Lodging until 1769, and it was used as a military hospital, including during the Napoleonic Wars. It was converted into a youth hostel in 1964, and then was transferred to HES and was opened to the public in 1996.

Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the historic burgh. Argyll's Lodging, Stirling (Billings)

The building is said to be haunted, and ghostly face was reputedly seen by soldiers here, coming through a wall. One story is that this is the bogle of Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, mentioned above.

Argyll's Lodging, an impressive and atmospheric old town house, decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 17th century and owned at one time by the Campbells of Argyll, on Castle Wynd on the road up to Stirling Castle in the historic burgh. Argyll's Lodging, Stirling (© Martin Coventry)

Other historic buildings nearby include Mar’s WarkCowane’s Hospital, the Church of the Holy Rude and Stirling Castle.

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