Built in the first half of the 16th century, Craignethan is recognised as an excellent early example of a sophisticated artillery fortification,[1] although its defences were never fully tested.

Appointed Kings Master of Works, he was responsible for the defences at Blackness Castle, as well as the renaissance facades of Linlithgow Palace.

[3] Silverwork from the chapel was taken to Edinburgh and engraved by John Mosman with the arms of the king's infant eldest son, James, Duke of Rothesay.

Arran, who became Duc de Châtellerault following Mary, Queen of Scots' marriage to the French Dauphin, served as regent in her infancy.

However, he later opposed Mary's second marriage to Lord Darnley, and was forced to surrender his castles at Craignethan and Cadzow.

He went into exile at Newcastle in England, and had surrendered Hamilton by the end of November 1565, when he promised to put Craignethan in the queen's hands.

[8] Arran's son, Lord Claud Hamilton, is said to have entertained Mary at Craignethan on the night before the Battle of Langside in 1568.

After an English army assisting in the Marian civil war went to Glasgow in May 1570 the Hamiltons withdrew to Craignethan, and the Earl of Sussex was informed of Craignethan's defensive shortcomings;"Draffin, a strong house of the Duke's, but situate in a hole, so that it is commanded on every part, and has no ordnance.

[14] In August, the English ambassador in Scotland, Thomas Randolph heard that Regent Lennox was hoping to get the Hamiltons out of their "den of Draffen".

Lennox planned to go to Clydesdale with the Earls of Mar and Glencairn, and Lord Ochiltree, bringing artillery from Stirling Castle.

[15] There were allegations that the Craignethan garrison had destroyed crops and produce on lands of Lemphlair and Braidwood belonging to the Lairds of Cunninghamhead and Glenbervie, and captured Lord Sempill.

[16] A treaty was signed between the King and Queen's parties in 1573, but by 1579 the Hamiltons were outlawed, and Lord Claud fled to France.

[20] This involved the demolition of the north-west tower and the massive west wall, the 'inner barmkin', which was tumbled into the ditch, rendering the castle relatively defenceless.

[21] On 1 July 1592 Lord John Hamilton captured Archibald Wauchope of Niddrie with other rebel followers of the Earl of Bothwell at the meadow of Lesmahagow and imprisoned them in the castle.

James VI sent Sir John Carmichael, captain of the royal guard, to collect the prisoners, but one of Hamilton's sons released them.

The new owner, Andrew Hay, a covenanting laird, built himself a two-storey house in the south-west corner of the outer courtyard.

The property was given into state care by the 14th Earl in 1949, and is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument managed by Historic Environment Scotland.

Chapter XI describes the location: "All heads were now bent from the battlements of the turret, which commanded a distant prospect down the vale of the river.

The Tower of Tillietudlem stood, or perhaps yet stands, upon the angle of a very precipitous bank, formed by the junction of a considerable brook with the Clyde."

In June 1829 he wrote to his friend James Skene, who was preparing etchings to illustrate Scott's books, "I did not think on Craignethan in writing about Tillietudlem, and I believe it differs in several respects from my Chateau en Espagne.

[25][26] In September 1834 Scott's son in law John Gibson Lockhart took the artist J. M. W. Turner to visit Craignethan.

[29] A small group of houses were constructed on the road past the station, as Fence Terrace, and this subsequently became the hamlet of Tillietudlem.