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Location
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles, Scotland
Description
Lews Castle is a Victorian castle situated west of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Today the building is owned by the local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and is category A listed building. Comhairle nan Eilean and its partners propose to regenerate the vacant building through a mixed development comprising a museum and a hotel with function rooms. The castle is used as the main venue of the annual Hebridean Celtic Festival, a 4-day international music event held in July. The castle itself is not open to the public, but visitors can walk around the extensive grounds. The Woodland Centre houses exhibitions, a tea room, gift shop and toilets.
History
Lews Castle was built between 1847 and 1857 as a country house for Sir James Matheson who bought the island in 1844. In 1918, the Lewis estate including the castle was bought by Lord Leverhulme from the Matheson family. He gifted the castle to the people of Stornoway parish in 1923.During World War II the Castle was used as accommodation for the 700 Naval Air Squadron, who operated a detachment of six Supermarine Walrus aircraft from the castle grounds. From the early 1950s until 1989 the Castle served as a Technical College and school - Lews Castle College.
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