The castle was built in 1478 by George Maxwell when he inherited the Barony of Finlanstone. In the late 16th century the castle was inherited by Sir Patrick Maxwell, a powerful friend of king James VI of Scotland and who was notorious for murdering two members of a rival family and beating his wife who left him after having 16 children. Newark Castle came into state care in 1909 and is now a property of Historic Scotland with excellent visitor facilities.