Kilbride Castle

Kilbride Castle was a Norman stronghold in South Lanarkshire, held first by the de Valognes family and later by the powerful Comyns. Its remains lie on Laigh Mains motte, a raised earthwork north of East Kilbride, commanding views over the surrounding farmland. The site sits on a south-facing slope, protected by double ditches on the east and north sides. The castle’s history stretches back to the 11th century, when Roger de Valognes became the first Lord of Kilbride. His family’s claim to the land was disputed by Bishop Jocelin of Glasgow, but by 1189 they secured rights to a private chapel within the castle. The Comyns later gained control, and David Comyn, Lord of Kilbride, signed the 1237 Treaty of York that fixed the Anglo-Scottish border. Today, visitors find a quiet grassy mound where the castle once stood. A lane from Markethill Road leads to the farm gate, and the motte’s flattened top shows where stone was taken to build Mains Castle nearby. The view from the top looks over rolling fields, a reminder of the strategic position once held by Kilbride Castle.