Polmaise
Castle of Gillies Hill was designed by William Burn in 1863 for the
Murray family and destroyed by the army in 1966 by order of the old
Stirling Council.
After you turn off Polmaise Road at N 56º 06.108 W 003º 57.605,
you’ll see several low flat areas on your left filled with
grasses, reeds and yellow flag iris. These areas were the curling
ponds for the Murray family and their guests used back when winters
were much colder. Barely visible behind one of the ponds is a small
hut in which participants could change.
Further along the road you’ll come to a high red brick wall
on the left. This was the Murrays’ walled garden, a wonderful
place which will make any of you who’ve read Frances Hodgson
Burnett’s book "The Secret Garden" feel right at home. Behind
the tall east wall are the remains of hothouses complete with
irrigation systems. The garden must have been truly magnificent in
its day visible from a viewing bench which was located half way up
the steep hill to the west, now covered with a spruce
plantation.
You can park
at N 56º 06.235 W 003º 57.836 to explore the garden. If you take
the easternmost trail north from the parking area you will soon
arrive at the burial ground, a small enclosed area surrounded by
yew trees and containing two Italian cypresses.
Only one monument sits inside the iron and stonework, the grave of
Alastair Bruce Murray, Late Cameron Highlanders, 1840-1924 and his
wife Mary Stephanson Murray, 1868-1956.
In front of their cross is a small memorial to their son and heir,
2nd Lieut Alastair John Greville Murray who was killed in the
Battle of the Aisne in 1914 and buried in Montcornet Cemetery,
France. To see Polmaise Castle ruins go to GC1EDNV or GC1EDNP, to
see the Wellingtonia (Sierra Redwood) Grove which the Murrays
planted on the top of Gillies Hill go to GC1H74Q, and to see the
Secret Spring go to GC1EDNF.