Darnley Mill c 1830.
The painting shows a group of buildings, some ruinous, on the banks of Brock Burn. Two of these buildings (a cottage and the mill) are still standing in 2003. Old records suggest that the cottage was originally built as a tower house (possibly Darnley Castle). However, Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) undertook field work at the site to investigate these claims. Their findings show that although there have been buildings on the site of the cottage since the 15th century, the remaining foundations were not substantial enough to support a tower house.
This watercolour was painted by an unknown artist working for the Maxwell family and is one of a series showing views of the Pollok Estate.
Reproduced with the permission of the National Trust for Scotland
Keywords:
archaeology, Brock Burn, buildings, castles, cottages, Darnley Castle, Darnley Mill, Darnley Mill Farm, excavations, farms, Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division, GUARD, mills, Pollok Estate, ruins, standing building survey, tower houses, watercolours