Lews Castle built by the Mathesons in the 19th century, on the West Side of Stornoway Harbour. Sir James Matheson who purchased the island in 1844 built mock-Tudor folly in the 19th century. In 1923, only five years after buying Lewis, Lord Leverhulme gifted the building back to the people of Stornoway. Today, visitors are not allowed inside the castle since it is used for educational purposes, but the Stornoway Trust Ranger Service operates guided walks in and around the castle grounds.
