Cadzow Oaks and Earthworks are two separate aspects of Chatelherault - the oaks can be found dotted across the park, but many specimens can be viewed alongside the Earthworks. Both are ancient, the oaks almost 800 years old and the earthworks dating back to at least the 12th-century, and even a Roman artifact has been found on the site.
The best place to see these majestic centuries-old oaks is at the site of the Cadzow Earthworks - this is relatively close to the Chatelherault visitor center and Cadzow Castle, meaning even if you aren't able to explore the entire country park you can still see a number of interesting sites.
The oaks formed part of the woodland setting for the once major hunting activities which took place within Chatelherault. What is now the visitor's center for the country park began life as a hunting lodge when it was constructed in the 1730s, but hunting was a commercially important part of the management of the park for centuries before that.
Over their eight-century history, the oaks have seen a rich history. Once extending all the way to Hamilton Palace, they saw the demolition of the stately home as a result of subsidence and major expansion of the town of Hamilton in recent times, but also bore witness to the siege of Cadzow Castle whilst Mary, Queen of Scots, was resident and dozens of other famous Scots visit the estate to take part in hunts over the years. The Cadzow Oaks and the wider features of Chatelherault have also attracted many artists and writers (including Sir Walter Scott, who wrote a poem about Cadzow Castle).
While Cadzow Castle is stated to have been built on the site of a former medieval castle by many sources, evidence suggests that Cadzow Earthworks is, in fact, that earlier castle. The two sites are close to each other, but if the Earthworks is indeed the earlier structure it would be incorrect to say Cadzow Castle has been built on the same site.
Archaeological excavations in the 1980s mostly failed to find any artifacts of note, save for a silver denarius of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a Roman coin. Aurelius was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 161 to 180 CE, and so it is likely the coin was struck around this period. This artifact's connection to the earthwork remains is unclear and may be unconnected as the Roman Empire did occupy this region (remnants of the Antonine Wall can be found north of Hamilton in places such as Milngavie, Bearsden, and Cumbernauld) at various points in its history.
In order to further understand this site, I will be visiting Historic Environment Scotland's search room in Edinburgh to examine archaeological reports about Cadzow Earthworks. Subscribe and check back regularly for further information.
Cadzow Oaks
Oak trees can be found at various points throughout Chatelherault Country Trees, specifically common oaks (Quercus robur). Dendrochronology has dated the trees to the 15th-century, making them between 700 and 800 years old and therefore some of the oldest living trees in Scotland. |
| One of the oaks found next to Cadzow Earthworks. |
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| A 19th-century painting of the Cadzow Oaks, exact date and artist unknown.[1] |
Over their eight-century history, the oaks have seen a rich history. Once extending all the way to Hamilton Palace, they saw the demolition of the stately home as a result of subsidence and major expansion of the town of Hamilton in recent times, but also bore witness to the siege of Cadzow Castle whilst Mary, Queen of Scots, was resident and dozens of other famous Scots visit the estate to take part in hunts over the years. The Cadzow Oaks and the wider features of Chatelherault have also attracted many artists and writers (including Sir Walter Scott, who wrote a poem about Cadzow Castle).
Cadzow Earthworks
There is nothing present at the site of the Cadzow Earthworks to suggest what it actually is. My research has found it is a late Iron Age or Dark Age promontory fort, however, most online resources are spotty and include information on the Earthworks only as a side note to the Cadzow Oaks. The Canmore record for the site (previously maintained by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, and now by Historic Environment Scotland) appears to be the only online resource which provides information in any real depth. |
| The site of the Cadzow Earthworks, surrounded by the 700-800-year-old Cadzow Oaks, close to Cadzow Castle. |
Archaeological excavations in the 1980s mostly failed to find any artifacts of note, save for a silver denarius of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a Roman coin. Aurelius was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 161 to 180 CE, and so it is likely the coin was struck around this period. This artifact's connection to the earthwork remains is unclear and may be unconnected as the Roman Empire did occupy this region (remnants of the Antonine Wall can be found north of Hamilton in places such as Milngavie, Bearsden, and Cumbernauld) at various points in its history.
In order to further understand this site, I will be visiting Historic Environment Scotland's search room in Edinburgh to examine archaeological reports about Cadzow Earthworks. Subscribe and check back regularly for further information.
Bibliography
- The Virtual Hamilton Palace Trust. Cadzow Oaks, Hamilton High Park, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. Hamilton Palace. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland.
- Dixon, Piers (26 July 2013). Early Stone Castles of South Lanarkshire. Day of Archaeology.
- Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (1939 - 2003). Cadzow (45727). Canmore. Historic Environment Scotland.
Image Attribution
[1] Public domain (copyright expired). Original artist and date unknown. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Images with no attribution are Copyright © 2017, Adam Black. All rights reserved.
Images with no attribution are Copyright © 2017, Adam Black. All rights reserved.
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