House & Family History: The 16th century tower house built the Boyd family was extended several times in later centuries by the Boyds, most notably by Spencer Boyd, who restored the then-derelict Castle in 1857. Penkill was a gathering place for members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. In the late 1850s the artist William Bell Scott became friendly with Alice Boyd and regularly spent his summers at Penkill. Scott painted a series of murals illustrating James I's 15th century poem "The Kingis Quair" on the staircase walls of the Castle, as well as painting other pictures and writing poems while at Penkill. Scott died at Penkill on November 22, 1890 and was buried in the local church. Christina Rossetti, the Pre-Raphaelite poet (and sister of artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti), wrote of Penkill: "Even Naples in imagination cannot efface the quiet fertile comeliness of Penkill in reality." In the mid-20th century Penkill fell into disrepair. In the 1980s the Castle was purchased and restored by the American lawyer and drag car racer Elton Eckstrand, who sold up in 1992.

House Listed: Category A

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Boyd family, 16th century-19th century? Elton Eckstrand, late 20th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No