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Glorious Gardens: Milton Lockhart

From the Clyde valley to Japan via Russia!

- Sue Hewer, Scotland’s Gardens and Designed Landscape Heritage volunteer

There has been an estate on the bank of the Clyde at Milton since at least the 14th century. In 1828 William Lockhart bought the estate and set about demolishing the existing house, re-designing the policies and building a new mansion house.

  • Pont's Glasgow and the County of Lanark (Pont 34), 1593-96

    Pont's Glasgow and the County of Lanark (Pont 34), 1593-96

  • Roy's Military Survey of Scotland (Lowlands 1752-55), ©British Library

    Roy's Military Survey of Scotland (Lowlands 1752-55), ©British Library

  • Forrest's 1816 The County of Lanark from Actual Survey

    Forrest's 1816 The County of Lanark from Actual Survey

  • Ordnance Survey 25 inch, Lanark Sheet XXIV.4 (combined) and Lanark Sheet XVIII.16 (Carluke). Surveyed 1858, published 1864

    Ordnance Survey 25 inch, Lanark Sheet XXIV.4 (combined) and Lanark Sheet XVIII.16 (Carluke). Surveyed 1858, published 1864

  • Ordnance Survey 25 inch, Lanark Sheet XXIV.4 (combined) and Lanark Sheet XVIII.16 (Carluke). Surveyed 1858, published 1864

    Ordnance Survey 25 inch, Lanark Sheet XXIV.4 (combined) and Lanark Sheet XVIII.16 (Carluke). Surveyed 1858, published 1864

  • Ordnance Survey 25-inch, Lanarkshire 024.04. Surveyed 1896, published 1897

    Ordnance Survey 25-inch, Lanarkshire 024.04. Surveyed 1896, published 1897

  • Ordnance Survey six-inch 2nd edition, Lanarkshire Sheets XVIII.SE and Sheet XXIV.NE. Revised 1896, published 1898

    Ordnance Survey six-inch 2nd edition, Lanarkshire Sheets XVIII.SE and Sheet XXIV.NE. Revised 1896, published 1898

  • Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Maps of Great Britain Series (N.S.84). Published 1956

    Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Maps of Great Britain Series (N.S.84). Published 1956

  • Pont's Glasgow and the County of Lanark (Pont 34), 1593-96
  • Roy's Military Survey of Scotland (Lowlands 1752-55), ©British Library
  • Forrest's 1816 The County of Lanark from Actual Survey
  • Ordnance Survey 25 inch, Lanark Sheet XXIV.4 (combined) and Lanark Sheet XVIII.16 (Carluke). Surveyed 1858, published 1864
  • Ordnance Survey 25 inch, Lanark Sheet XXIV.4 (combined) and Lanark Sheet XVIII.16 (Carluke). Surveyed 1858, published 1864
  • Ordnance Survey 25-inch, Lanarkshire 024.04. Surveyed 1896, published 1897
  • Ordnance Survey six-inch 2nd edition, Lanarkshire Sheets XVIII.SE and Sheet XXIV.NE. Revised 1896, published 1898
  • Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Maps of Great Britain Series (N.S.84). Published 1956

In order to make the most of the views, it was essential to find just the right location for a house and its setting. Leaving nothing to chance, William Lockhart called upon his friend Sir Walter Scott to advise him. Scott commented on his visit there in 1829:

"We went to Milton on as fine a day as could consist with snow on the ground. The situation is eminently beautiful; a fine promontory round which the Clyde makes a magnificent bend. We fixed on a situation where the sitting room should command the upper view, and, with an ornamental garden, I think it may be made the prettiest place in Scotland." (Scott, 1890, p.405)

The new house was in the Scottish Baronial Style as is the bridge which provides the main visitor entrance to the estate.

  • An etching in 1837 from The Upper Ward of Lanarkshire by David Wilson, showing Milton Lockhart House with Meander Parkland in the foreground, cattle grazing and people walking beneath the great lime trees

    An etching in 1837 from The Upper Ward of Lanarkshire by David Wilson, showing Milton Lockhart House with Meander Parkland in the foreground, cattle grazing and people walking beneath the great lime trees

  • The formal gardens of Milton Lockhart in the early 1900s were regularly opened to the public (note staff in the foreground)

    The formal gardens of Milton Lockhart in the early 1900s were regularly opened to the public (note staff in the foreground)

  • Milton Lockhart House in the mid-20th century, http://canmore.org.uk/collections/952723

    Milton Lockhart House in the mid-20th century, http://canmore.org.uk/collections/952723

  • Milton Lockhart House in Japan, 1993

    Milton Lockhart House in Japan, 1993

  • Clyde Walkway bisecting Valley Parkland then entering North Wood

    Clyde Walkway bisecting Valley Parkland then entering North Wood

  • The Dairy / Gardener’s Cottage was extended as a residence after Milton Lockhart House was abandoned and subsequently removed. The disturbed ground in this photo of the 1990s is the site of both the old (removed) Milton Lockhart House and the current Lockhart Castle.

    The Dairy / Gardener’s Cottage was extended as a residence after Milton Lockhart House was abandoned and subsequently removed. The disturbed ground in this photo of the 1990s is the site of both the old (removed) Milton Lockhart House and the current Lockhart Castle.

  • The present Lockhart Castle, SGLH, 2017

    The present Lockhart Castle, SGLH, 2017

  • Walled garden in 2017, facing north north-west towards retaining wall below terraced garden

    Walled garden in 2017, facing north north-west towards retaining wall below terraced garden

  • The Gatehouse and bridge over the River Clyde today, SGLH, 2016

    The Gatehouse and bridge over the River Clyde today, SGLH, 2016

  • An etching in 1837 from The Upper Ward of Lanarkshire by David Wilson, showing Milton Lockhart House with Meander Parkland in the foreground, cattle grazing and people walking beneath the great lime trees
  • The formal gardens of Milton Lockhart in the early 1900s were regularly opened to the public (note staff in the foreground)
  • Milton Lockhart House in the mid-20th century, http://canmore.org.uk/collections/952723
  • Milton Lockhart House in Japan, 1993
  • Clyde Walkway bisecting Valley Parkland then entering North Wood
  • The Dairy / Gardener’s Cottage was extended as a residence after Milton Lockhart House was abandoned and subsequently removed. The disturbed ground in this photo of the 1990s is the site of both the old (removed) Milton Lockhart House and the current Lockhart Castle.
  • The present Lockhart Castle, SGLH, 2017
  • Walled garden in 2017, facing north north-west towards retaining wall below terraced garden
  • The Gatehouse and bridge over the River Clyde today, SGLH, 2016

In 1989, events took a very odd turn. Japanese Toyshop proprietor and actor Masahiko Tsugawa and President Yosiaki Hirai purchased the house for erection in Japan. It was transported by the Siberian railway with the permission of the USSR President, Mikhail Gorbechev.

As so often happens, the estate has again gone through a period of renewal.  A new house has been built by the new estate owners on the site of the former house, and restoration work is underway in the policies and the wider estate.

Read more by clicking the Glorious Gardens: Milton Lockhart report on Canmore link under 'Find out more'.

This research was carried out as part of the Glorious Gardens volunteer project, which is managed by Scotland's Garden & Landscape Heritage and delivered by Northlight Heritage, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and from Historic Environment Scotland.  To find out more about the project, explore the other museum items below.

Area Guide

Area Guide