Our History
The tale of the castle
As custodians of this historic property, we revel in unearthing its long-held secrets and sharing its timeless stories. Join us on a whirlwind tour through the history of Crossbasket Castle.
The Creation
The land on which the castle sits, located in High Blantyre on the outskirts of Glasgow, was acquired by Alexander Lindsay in 1440. Built as part of the Lindsay family estate, the castle originated as a 15th-century tower house — a jutting building that performed double duty as both defensible stronghold and status symbol.
Remarkably, the structure survives today as part of our wonderfully historic castle.
Evolutionary expansion
Over the following centuries, the castle passed through the hands of many landowners, lawyers, and notable figures, from Thomas Peter in the early 1700s to the famous 19th century chemist Charles Macintosh, who patented his invention of waterproof fabric during his ownership of Crossbasket.
Beyond the 1800s and into the 1900s, successive owners expanded and altered the castle, shaping the architecture seen today. In the 20th century the building underwent significant changes of use but, by the early 2000s, had been left severely neglected by a string of failed development plans.
By 2010 the death knell seemed inevitable, as major structural deterioration caused the site to be added to the country's Buildings at Risk Register.
A turning point
In 2011, a new chapter was inked in the dusty book of Crossbasket Castle when entrepreneurs and philanthropists Alison and Steve Timoney purchased the property, saving it from further undignified degradation or demolition.
Over five years, they invested more than £10 million into a meticulous restoration aimed at preserving historical integrity while transforming it into a luxurious retreat. The project revived the 15th-century tower, reinstated period craftsmanship, and introduced modern comforts with great sensitivity.
The story continues
Crossbasket Castle reopened in May 2016 as a five-star hotel and events venue. Its restoration honours over four centuries of history while creating a serene, contemporary setting — reviving the estate from near ruin into one of Scotland’s most distinguished heritage properties.
Further investments continued to restore the original estate with land and property being purchased and restored around the Castle bringing the gate lodge, east lodge and adjacent land and property of Foveran back under the ownership of Crossbasket.
In 2025, a new multi-million pound, 40-bedroom hotel was constructed on the estate, alongside two distinctive dining concepts, expanding the experience for guests across the entire property. The estate’s next chapter arrives in 2026 with the introduction of a new spa and luxury cabins, set to open later in the year.
This marks a new era for Crossbasket Castle — one devoted to the promise of Pure Escapism.