Credit for the research on the Maxwell's go to Elizabeth M Main, MA, JP.

Dargavel is situated in the Parish of Erskine (now Bishopton). The name Erskine had its origins in Viking times. Early in the 11^th century, a Scotsman, having killed a Viking general, cut off his head and with the bloody dagger in his hand, showed it to King Malcolm II saying in Gaelic – referring to the head and dagger "Eris Skyne". Malcolm thereupon gave him the surname Erskine, and no doubts also the lands along the Clyde. The next record of the family is 200 years later (1225) when Henry de Erskine witnessed a charter. The Erskine’s continued to play their part in the history of the Kingdom of Scotland. Sir Robert Erskine became Great Chamberlain in 1350; Robert, 3^rd Lord Erskine died beside his King at Flodden (1531); John 5^th Lord Erskine was made hereditary Keeper of Stirling Castle and his son John, 6th Lord Erskine was made Earl of Mar in 1562 by Mary, Queen of Scots.

The Maxwell’s were a large and powerful Border family, emanating originally from Nithdale in Dumfriesshire. During the 14^th and 15^th centuries they expanded northwards and occupied castles in the Glasgow area at Cadder, Calderwood, Haggs, Mearns, Pollock and Stanley.

In 1402 the marriages of two heiresses – daughters of Sir Robert Denniston of Finlaystone – brought two important families into the lands south of the Clyde. Margaret the elder, married Sir William Cunninghame of Kilmaurs and when her father died three years later, inherited the lands of Finlaystone, which lies 6 miles down the Clyde from Dargavel. One of their heirs became Earl of Glencairn. He and his heirs played an important part in the history in the Scotland.

Elizabeth, the younger daughter, married Sir Robert Maxwell of Calderwood and, when she inherited the barony of Newark (now Port Glasgow) (for more information see Newark House). He changed his name to Maxwell of Newark.

Patrick Maxwell, great grandson of the first Maxwell of Newark, in 1516 obtained, from the Earl of Lennox, the Grant of the lands of Dargavel and became the first Maxwell of Dargavel.

A coat of arms on the east gable of Dargavel House (including in it the stag’s head of the Maxwell crest) is dated 1584. This may recall the date of the building but, more likely of an improvement of the original house. Described as ‘Z’ plan building, it was similar to Kelbourne and Knock castles in Ayrshire, built at the same time. Rectangular in shape it lay roughly north to south. With large turrets at it’s north west and south east corners. With roughcast walls, it had three storeys and an attic. The main doorway was on the west front, now obscured by later additions. A passage to the left of the front door led to the main spiral stair in the north-west turret. There are two cellars and a kitchen on the ground floor, with the main hall and private room on the first floor. From their a small turnpike stair. Located in a turret and the main east wall, led to the families private rooms on the second floor, while accommodation for domestics and other retainers was on the top floor.

The windows in the old building are the original ones, with moulding on the jambs and the lintels, the one in the west gable at the second floor level are particular ornate.

The sundial, dated 1670, in the wall of the south-east tower, may commemorate some later rebuilding. The whole house was reconstructed and extended in 1849 by the laird – John Hall-Maxwell CB of Dargavel – David Bryce RSA being the architect.