GILBERTFIELD CASTLE, South Lanarkshire 2.5 miles north west of East Kilbride, off minor roads south east of Cambuslang and south of A724, on north side of Dechmont Hill at Gilbertfield Farm.

Gilbertfield is a ruined 17th century L-Plan house of three storeys and an attic. All chambers on the ground floor were vaulted. The gable and northern wall of the south eastern wing collapsed in the 1950's. The house consists of two blocks, the larger running east to west joined at the western half of the north side by the other, which has the entrance in the re-entrant. The door leads to a small lobby, which provides access to a turnpike stair within a square well. To the left a door leads into a larder with service stair in the south western corner leading to the dining room or hall on the floor above. A door in the east wall accesses the kitchen within the south wing. This has a gunloop and window which guard the main door, a large fireplace with oven and seat, and a stone sink with conduit drain. To the right of the lobby another door leads to a chamber possibly used as a wine cellar, which has two small slot windows in the north and east walls. The first floor of the southern wing is entirely composed of the dining room or hall, which measures 27ft by 17ft and 14.25 ft to the ceiling. There was a fireplace in the north wall which at some point had been reduced in size. A corridor leads past the stair well to a parlour in the north wing. The entire floor is illuminated by a series of large windows on all sides, many with gunloops. Access to the stair is from the north western corner of the hall. The plan on the floors above was similar, with three bedrooms to each.

Externally there is a heraldic panel above the door, and originally two round corner turrets at the south eastern and north western corners. Of these only the supportive corbelling of the latter survives. The roof and corbiestepped sections of the gables have now gone, though the stepping itself was adapted to accommodate the corner turrets. There was no parapet, access to the turrets being from the rooms of the attic storey. The house stands within the ancient barony of Drumsagard, and is dated 1607. It was presumably constructed by the Hamiltons, although at least one source suggests a Cunninghame builder. By the turn of the 18th century it was occupied by the retired soldier turned poet, William Hamilton of Gilbertfield. He was responsible for the translation of Blind Harry's epic poem 'Wallace' from the old Scots. This work of 1477 provides a biography of our national hero, in somewhat exaggerated terms, and it's translation by Hamilton brought it to national attention. The screenplay of 'Braveheart' is based directly upon it. As a poet Hamilton was admired by Burns.

'And would'st thou have me dissipate my grief; While Scotland weeps, weeps out her dearest blood, And floats to ruin down the crimson flood.'