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Newark Castle is on the east side of Port
Glasgow, 22 miles west of Glasgow, 3 miles
east of Greenock.
Newark Castle was built from the 1470s for
George Maxwell after he inherited the title
Barony of Finlaystone.
The Castle can be visited throughout the
summer with a small entrance fee. Check the
website for visiting times. Postcode: PA14
5NH
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Attractions
The image top is of Newark Castle from the
Castle Park, with Ferguson Marine Shipbuilders
next to the Castle.
You can view around the Castle, all through
the interior, then take in the views from the
top of the Tower.
Newark Castle History
1399 - Sir Robert Dennistoun of Finlaystone
Castle died, leading to the Estate being
divided in two for his daughters.
Elizabeth Dennistoun inherited the west part
of the Estate where Newark Castle is today,
marrying Robert Maxwell in 1402.
1470s - Newark Castle Tower was built for
George Maxwell, 4 miles west of Finlaystone
Castle.
1597 - the Castle was enlarged to what can
be seen today by Sir Patrick Maxwell.
1668 - the Glasgow authorities bought the
land around the Castle so it could be used as a
Port, leading to the Town that grew around the
Port being named Port Glasgow.
Port Glasgow evolved into a vast
Shipbuilding area, building the largest ship
ever built in Scotland, Naess
Enterprise in 1969, a 133,000 ton tanker,
and having one of the largest Ropemaking
Factories in the World.
1694 - the last Maxwell died leading to the
Castle being rented out.
One of the early tenants was a Ropemaker
named John Gray, who is claimed to have bought
wild animals such as big cats and bears form
ships visiting Port Glasgow, so he could sell
them in Scotland.
The last native Bears in Scotland died out
around the 700s due to hunting.
1909 - Newark Castle was bought by the local
authorities to serve as a Museum.
Finlaystone House / Castle and
Estate are 4 miles east, open most of the year,
built for the Dennistoun family from the 1300s,
passing to other families such as Cunningham,
Graham, Buchanan, Kidston, and MacMillan.
The Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow statues are
in Coronation Park a few hundred yards west of
Newark Castle, unveiled in June 2023 in honour
of the men that built ships in the area, 10m /
33ft high, one of many attractions in the Port
Glasgow and Greenock area.
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