THE FLEMING CASTLE
Cumbernauld Castle II

When the Flemings came to construct their castle at the end of the 14th century, the best they would be able to do was to build themselves a strong stone tower as the country was in much too impoverished a state to permit of anything more ambitious, such as the great courtyard types of baronial strongholds that were being built before the death of Alexander III.
Such a tower would have be of the kind we know as the L-plan, a substantial rectangular block, having a wing projecting at the end of one of the long sides, so that it looked in pplan like the letter L, hence this type description. To it, would be attached a small court of stone or timber containing subsidiary buildings. As time went by, and the power and influence of the family grew, the castle was enlarged by the addition of other stone structures, one of which would have been a large hall for festal occasions. No doubt this is what collapsed so tragically during Queen Mary's visit.
The site chosen was where Cumbernauld house stands today and, although the original tower has disappeared, blocks of what may have been its masonry may be picked out among the stones used to construct the new house. Its remains were obviously pulled down for this purpose.

Part of its courtyard buildings, however are still standing, particularly the wall that separates the lower service court from the car park. On the lower side of this there is, at a high level, a long row of corbels, or projecting stones, of a distinctively 16th century pattern, designed to support the timbers of a lean to building.
In the basement of the pavilion or secondary, also forming a limit to the car park, is a built up access door way and two vaults now used as garages. These vaults are of the same period as the adjoining wall. In the summer of 1963 and 1964 the Cumbernauld historical society, in co-operation with the Glasgow archaeological society, excavated an area some 65 metres North East of Cumbernauld house and uncovered a part of the domestic periphery of the castle, comprising a 15th century rubbish chute, an adjoining prison and cellar, and nearby, a well house reached by a flight of steps and of 17th century masonry. The excavation has since been filled in. Coins and pottery sherds dating from the 14th century were recovered from the site.