![]() ![]() They were appointed Hereditary Sheriffs of Renfrewshire and Hereditary Baillies of Paisley. The Semples of Elliston fought for Robert the Bruce, and steadily grew in power to become the Steward's hereditary Baillies of Renfrewshire. Robert Semple, Steward of the barony of Renfrew during the reign of Alexander II, was recorded as living in Elliston Castle, whose ruins lie near Howwood. The family, variously known as Sempill, Sempil, Sempel and Semple, had probably owned estates in the area from as early as the 13th century. The family abandoned it in the 18th century in favour of a new house. A door lintel has a date of 1680 and the initials L.H./I.C. It was built by the Glen family but passed in the late 16th century to the Hamiltons of Ferguslie. It is clearly visible from the A760 road going south from the village to Kilbirnie. The main hall was on the first floor, reached by a turnpike stair, which continued to the rooms on the upper floors. Not much survives of the former courtyard of the castle. ![]() The gables of the castle have collapsed, apart from the chimney stack which juts up into the sky. Built not far from the village of Lochwinnoch, Barr Castle is a 15th-century keep which was altered in the 16th century (and probably later, too). ![]()
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