Bonhard Castle

Drawing of Bonhard published in 1887[1]

Bonhard Castle was an L-plan tower house, dating from the 16th century, around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south east of Bo'ness, in West Lothian, Scotland.[2] It was demolished in 1962.[3]

Alternative names were Bonhard House, and Polkmyl Tower.[3]

History

The castle was owned by the Cornwalls of Bonhard. It was subdivided into farm-servant's dwellings, and altered internally. After it was burned out in 1959, it was blown up in 1962.[3]

Structure

The tower, which stood in a commanding position, had three storeys and a garret, with a semi-octagonal stair tower in the re-entrant angle. The original doorway was at the foot of the stair tower.

There was a kitchen in the unvaulted basement, while the hall was on the first floor;[2] there was 17th-century plasterwork on that floor.[3]

The site is now occupied by a new house.[3]

References

  1. ^ MacGibbon, David; Ross, Thomas (1887). The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Volume 3. Edinburgh: D. Douglas.
  2. ^ a b Coventry Martin (1997) The Castles of Scotland. Goblinshead. ISBN 1 899874 10 0 p84
  3. ^ a b c d e "Bonhard House". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
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56°00′04″N 3°34′57″W / 56.0010°N 3.5824°W / 56.0010; -3.5824