Lands of Elliston

Lands of Elliston
Howwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland UK grid reference NS
The remains of Elliston Castle
Lands of Elliston
Coordinates	55°48′19″N 4°34′03″W / 55.80522°N 4.567575°W / 55.80522; -4.567575Coordinates: 55°48′19″N 4°34′03″W / 55.80522°N 4.567575°W / 55.80522; -4.567575
Grid reference	grid reference NS392598
Type	Tower Castle
Site information
Owner	Private
Open to the public	No
Condition	Ruined
Site history
Built	15th century
Built by	Sempill family
Materials	Stone

The lands of Elliston, previously Elliotston or Eliotstoun or Elliestoun in the Parish of Lochwinnoch were part of the holdings of the Barony of Elliston, later a part of the Castle Semple barony and estates. The ruins of the castle lie a short distance from Howwood in Renfrewshire in a private garden on a minor road between the A737 and the B776. The name may have derived from earlier holders of the lands, however the Sempill family held them since at least 1220. The castle was abandoned circa 1550 when John Sempill, 1st Lord Sempill moved to a new castle at Castleton which he renamed Castle Semple (NS 377602).

In 1540 the lands of ''Castleton, Eliotstoun, Schutirflat, Nethir-Pennell, Hairstontoun, Lavane, Bargane and Lecheland'' were incorporated into the new Barony of Semple, together with other lands in Lanark and Ayr. The new barony was held by William, Lord Sempill and the principal dwelling or messuage was Castle Semple. Most of the lands within the parish of Lochwinnoch were once held by the Semples of Elliston.

In 1505 James IV of Scotland visited John Sempill's at Elliston his collegiate church at Castle Semple to which he gave an offering of 14 shillings.

The family have a number of recorded variations in their surname, including Sempill, Semphill, Sempil, Sempel and Semple. In about 1220 Robert Sempill, seneschal to the Barony of Renfrew, held 'Elziotstoun' from the high-steward of Scotland and sometime prior to 1309, a Robert Sempill of 'Elziotstoun' is recorded. Sir William Sempill in 1474 held the baronies of Elliston and Castleton, as did John, the first Lord Sempill in 1505. In 1513, John, the first Lord Sempill, was killed at the Battle of Flodden. In 1727 Hugh Sempill, 12th Lord Sempill, sold these lands to Colonel William McDowall of Garthland in whose family the lands remained until 1818, at which point John Harvey, Esquire, of Jamaica purchased the estate.