Newark Castle

The castle was built in 1478 by George Maxwell when he inherited the Barony of Finlanstone. In the late 16th century the castle was inherited by Sir Patrick Maxwell, a powerful friend of king James VI of Scotland and who was notorious for murdering two members of a rival family and beating his wife who left him after having 16 children. Newark Castle came into state care in 1909 and is now a property of Historic Scotland with excellent visitor facilities.