Lost to time but not to memory, Eaglesham House whispers tales of grandeur and loss. Imagine, if you will, a stately Scottish baronial mansion dominating the landscape. This was Eaglesham House, once known locally as Eaglesham Castle. It was built in 1859-60 by the Gilmour brothers, James and Allan.
The Gilmour brothers had acquired the Eaglesham estate in 1844. They bought it from the Earl of Eglinton. Allan Gilmour was a partner in Pollok and Gilmour, a firm dealing in ship owning and timber importing. He had retired in 1839.
David Bryce of Edinburgh designed Eaglesham House. Its Scots baronial style featured a square tower. The mansion boasted pitched roofs, crow-stepped gables, and turrets. The grounds included offices, gardens, lodge houses, parks, and plantations. It was a sight to behold.
Locals referred to it as Eaglesham Castle. It cost about 70,000 pounds to build. Allan Gilmour, the timber importer and shipowner, lived here.
But tragedy struck in 1954. A fire severely damaged the grand mansion. Eaglesham House was not rebuilt. Until 1959, the grounds were used to grow and dry grass. A rather undignified end for such an impressive estate.
Later, the Polnoon Estate Company bought the Eaglesham House Estate. However, the coach house remained occupied until 1982.
In 1984, a new chapter began. Planning permission was granted to demolish what remained of the house. On its site, the Linn Products factory was built. Richard Rogers, a distinguished modern architect, designed this new building.
Before Eaglesham House existed, Polnoon Lodge played a role in the estate’s history. Originally a hunting lodge for the Earls of Eglinton, it was built around 1733. The 9th Earl built it. The 12th Earl renovated it around the 1790s. When the Gilmour brothers bought the Eaglesham Estate, they lived in Polnoon Lodge. They resided there until Eaglesham House was completed in 1859/60.
Polnoon Lodge then became a temperance hotel in the 1920s. It served this purpose until 1957. The 1927 sale catalog described it as having many rooms. These included sitting rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and even a drawing room.
After the hotel closed in 1960, it fell into disrepair. Renfrew County Council restored it. It was then used for housing elderly people. The restoration work received a Civic Trust Award in 1971.
Today, little remains of Eaglesham House. Yet, its story lingers. It speaks of ambition, grandeur, and the relentless march of time. The site now houses a modern factory. But those who remember Eaglesham House can still envision its former glory. The echoes of Eaglesham Castle can still be heard in the wind.