Save Castle Toward

In 1948, Mrs Coats sold the Castle to Glasgow Corporation for use as a school.  By this stage there were only 2173 acres remaining. She received £24,000 for the estate. The Castle was then used as a residential school for the use of Glasgow children.

 

The Castle became known as a centre for arts and music.  In 1954 a Special Course in Art was run, attended by 67 pupils aged 15 – 18 from 4^th and 5^th Year from 21 Glasgow secondary schools, and many similar courses were run over the next few decades.

 

Many famous conductors, composers, musicians and artists have stayed at the Castle over the years, running or attending residential courses. Including John Maxwell Geddes (who wrote “Postlude for Strings” in protest at plans to sell the Castle), conductor and cellist William Conway, composer Eddie McGuire, writers James Kelman, Edwin Morgan and Liz Lochhead, artists Lesley Banks, G W Lennox Paterson and Gordon R Archibald. They, along with many others, credit their stay at Castle Toward as a major event in their lives.

 

The Glasgow corporation days of Castle Toward are yet to be completed. If you would like to share some information that you think should be added to this section please contact us. We would greatly welcome new images to make this section even more captivating.