The History of Lews Castle is explained by Stornoway Historical Society, please click here to view.  

A description of life looking after Sir James Matheson’s cows at Lews Castle in the 1850’s and his encounter with the infamous factor, Donald Munro can be found in the book "Father of St Kilda" by Roderick Campbell, Habost, Ness, published in 1901.

In the book "Father of St Kilda" Roderick Campbell describes his experiences in Canada with the Hudson Bay Company.  On his return to Lewis 19 years later in November 1878, he describes Donald Munro’s demise.  A brief history of Roderick Campbell and the Hudson Bay Company can be found  in the following article which appeared in the Stornoway Amenity Trust Homecoming Calendar (2009).

Seaforth Lodge preceded the familiar Lews Castle - click here for further information on the Lodge and a 1821 map of Stornoway.  Lews Castle is currently listed as “at risk” by the Scottish Civic Trust Register for Scotland.  The Local Authority have plans to develop the Castle as explained here.

James Matheson bought the Isle of Lewis in 1844 for £190,000, thus commencing an era  of industrial development in the Stornoway area. This is explained in the extracts below from the Stornoway Trust and Stornoway Amenity Trust sponsored book, Glimpses of Stornoway by Fred Silver 2009.

Click on the images for larger versions to open.