The Lews Castle
Lews Castle was built in 1854 by illegal opium trader James Matheson who had purchased Lewis with the profits of his Chinese drug activities.
It has lain derelict for years after it was disused as a secondary school and technical college. There are current plans to transform the castle into a £ 10 million upmarket hotel plus a glazed extension for the local museum.
The mock Tudor castle was built from illegal drugs money by opium baron Sir James Matheson in 1847. Despite its spectacular and commanding position overlooking Stornoway harbour the A-listed castle is in a perilous state.
A new trust is being established to keep the landmark building in community ownership.
A business angel is being sought to make a private investment. The deal would see the castle owned by a trust and the back service quarters leased to Western Isles Council for a museum.
The large public rooms and owner’s accommodation which faces the seafront would be converted into a plush hotel which with a modern extension could be expanded to 60 guestrooms. The completed hotel would be leased to a hospitality operator.