The following is from James Sproule, a researcher from London.  He visited the ruins of Cowden in 1999.  Thanks to James for sharing his adventure!

The house is still marked on the ordnance survey map, these are detailed maps of all of the UK printed by the Government and they note every significant building in the country, including ruins.

Parts of the house are still standing (just), although there are trees growing up beside (and inside) the house, which is itself covered in ivy. The house obviously consisted of a large tower (common for its time), of which a portion of the chimney stack remains standing. There was also a lower hall off to one side, again portions of this remain. It appears that the ground level has risen considerably, as there is what is most likely a ground floor fireplace mantel at about waist height, originally it would have probably been the main cooking area, and as such been between 5-6 feet tall. The piling up of earth is also evidenced by the very low floor area of the one story annex, which is again about a yard below the adjoining field.

The whole house is approximately 10 yards by 20 yards, but at the time Walter Spreull lived in the house, it would almost certainly had a further wooden outbuildings, and perhaps living areas, none of which obviously remain. Reports I have read (admittedly written around 100 years ago), state there was a stone inscribed with the Spreull crest above the doorway, I could find neither the stone, nor the doorway. The part of the house that would have been enclosed is now piled high with loose stones (obviously simply fallen in). In addition the local farmer has used a number of the stones to construct a dry stone wall which abuts the lower hall (this is very common).

The remains of the wall now being covered in a high dirt mound, with the occasional wall poking above it. Directly beside the remains of the tower, Scottish Power has erected an electricity pylon (no, not charming).

Cowden lies in what was a large Victorian country house estate, close by (within 200 yards of Cowden) there are the remains of a once grand walled garden, an overgrown tree lined avenue and a derelict stable block and an ornamental pond. There are however no signs of the big house itself (it was most probably levelled by bulldozers in the 1950's).

The area is generally used a park land for the people of Neilston, and there were no sign etc stating what Cowden was, nor were there any signs telling people not to trespass. When asked, the locals had no idea of what the house was called, or its history!

JamesSproule@compuserve.com