Arran commanded the approaches to the Firth of Clyde, so it was important to hold Arran, and hence control most of the south of Scotland. Therefore there has been a fortress here since the fifth century, when an ancient Irish tribe came over and founded the kingdom of Dalriada.There was a Viking fort here. The name Brodick comes from the Norse words, meaning 'broad bay'. Arran means 'peaked island' in Gaelic.

The present castle dates from the 13th century, with major alterations in  1544, 1588, 1652 and 1844 by the Dukes of Hamilton who owned it from 1503 , when the castle and the Earldom of Arran were granted to Lord Hamilton by his cousin  James IV.Cromwellian soldiers occupied the castle in 1648 during the Civil War, executing the first Duke. The second Duke fared no better, being killed in battle three years later.The most important was the alteration doubling in size of the castle in 1844 by the 10th Duke of Hamilton and his wife, Princess Marie of Baden. The high tower and magnificent Victorian rooms were designed by James Gillespie Graham,The castle eventually passed into the hands of  the daughter of the 12th Duke of Hamilton. Mary, Duchess of Montrose  who restored the gardens. Since her death in 1957 it has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland

Brunston Castle 

Although the resort and golf course is named after the original 16thcentury, all that is left of it these days is a small ruined tower house in the middle of the course. 

Carleton Castle 

Carnell Castle, Nr. Craigie   

The original late 15th century tower house has been incorporated into a later Scottish baronial style mansion house, but is still visible. The first owners were the Wallaces of Carnell, but the mansion was added in 1843, and further additions have been made since.                     

Cassillis House     

Cassillis House stands by the Doon about three miles from Maybole. It is not known when it was built, but Grose, the antiquarian, conjectures it to have been erected about the time of Queen Mary, although it was probably earlier. The house was considerably modernised in 1830, but the old tower still forms the main body of the building while the Dule Tree (seen to the left in the engraving) waves its branches, and the Doon sweeps past its walls as of yore.The history of Cassillis is uneventful, and it would probably never have been heard of half a mile from the parish in which it stands had it not been for a romantic story which has carried its fame far and wide. Here is the story:The gypsies cam' to oor gude lord's yett,
And O, but they sang sweetly;
They sang sae sweet and sae very complete,
That doon cam' oor fair ladye.As sune as they saw her weel-faured face 
They coist the glamour ower her."O conie wi' me," says Johnnie Fan,
"O, come wi' me, my deane,
For I vow aud I swear by the hilt o' my sword, 
That your lord shall nae mair come near ye."And when oor Lord cam' hame at e'en,
And speered for his fair ladye,
The tane she cried, and the ither replied,
"She 's awa' wi' the gypsy laddie.""Gae saddle to me the black, black steed,
Gae saddle and mak' him ready.
Before that 1 either eat or sleep,
I 'll gae seek my fair ladye."And we were fifteen wed-made men,
Although we werna bonny,
And we were a' put doon but ane,
For a fair young, wanton ladye.Such is the story; and if any one asks for proof of the truth of it, all we can say is that the ballad is our authority. And ballads, although not exactly historical, are generally founded on fact; and while granting that we cannot point to any particular date, or any particular person, we hold that an event once happened in connection with Cassillis, such as the old ballad describes.Besides the Dule Tree and the "Gypsie's Steps," there is little of interest to be seen about Cassillis now; but twenty years ago, the visitor to the old place was shewn the tearful portrait of the run-away lady herself, arid a piece of tapestry wrought by her, depicting the elopement, both of which have now disappeared; while a trap door used to be uplifted revealing the old dungeon of Cassillis, whence "cart-loads of human bones were once removed, telling, it was to be feared, of deeds and times long gone by, when the devoted guest or the refractory vassal went so frequently amissing, having met a fate which some might suspect, but none durst inquire into." The reader who can receive this as historical need not scruple to receive Johnnie Fan's story too Copyright © 1999-2007 by Maybole Community Council. All rights reserved.

Collegiate Church Lochwinoch  

CC Robert and Thomas Sempill supported Robert Bruce in his 14th Century campaigns and, as their reward, were granted significant stretches of land confiscated from the family of John Balliol. This included the area around Loch Winnoch. A later Thomas, Sir Thomas Sempill of Eliotstoun, inherited the estates at Loch Winnoch. He died in 1488 at the battle of Sauchieburn leaving his son John to become Lord Semple. A little later, in 1505, this John Semple built Castle Semple at the east end of Loch Winnoch - now known as Castle Semple Loch - and also founded the collegiate church near the loch shore. It is in a late gothic style and has a rectangular body with a square tower at the west end and a three-sided apse at the east end. The school associated with the church came to be regarded as one of the finest in Scotland. John himself died in 1513 at the battle of Flodden. He is entombed at the eastern end of the church. The tombstone of a descendant of his, Gabriel Semple, who died in 1587 is also inside the body of the church along with some more modern (19th century) graves.   The mansion house called "Castle Semple" was built in 1735 on the site of Castle Tower (a misnomer for Castleton, according to local information in 1856), which is described by Crawford in 1710 as consisting of a large court, part of which seemed to be very ancient building (OPS 1851). According to Gardner, Castleton was built in
1492-3 or shirtly after, but Millar states that it was built about 1550, as a successor to Elliston Castle (NS35NE 1). Its foundations were exposed in 1836 when digging drains about Castle Semple (New Statistical Account {NSA} 1845).

The mansion was burned down in 1924 and now stands as a ruined shell. The billiard room and stables wing have been re-roofed and are used as farm buildings.  My note, strange description, will add more if I find any ! 

Citadel Ayr   

Nothing remains of the castle built by William I. After an eventful early life, it was demolished by Cromwell's forces in 1654 to make room for the huge citadel he built here, and from which they governed much of Scotland. Much of the Citadel's outer wall remains in place, with the higher level interior areas used in the 1700s for residential development.  

Clonbeith Castle  

The Cunningham Family Lands The ancient Cunningham lands lie opposite the Isle of Arran on the wind-blown west coast of Scotland - an area that until the recent reform of local government, was known as 'Cunningham District'. More specifically, the Cunninghams controlled, or sought to control, the valleys of the Annick Water, Lugton Water and the Bombo Burn - all good farmland stretching between the towns of Kilwinning, Kilbirnie, Stewarton and Kilmaurs (incidentally the 'kil-' prefix in Scottish place names means 'cell' or church: Kilwinning means church of  St Finnan and Kilbirnie the church of St. Brendan).  The story of the Cunninghams starts in the twelfth century with King David I of Scotland. He was exiled as a boy to the English Court, which was then dominated by the Norman associates of William the Conqueror, and when David became King, he brought with him to Scotland a group of Norman friends to whom he distributed land. One of these, Warnebald, received lands in Cunningham, Ayrshire and in the manner of that time, adopted the name.  The word 'cunningham' may come (rather prosaically) from the Saxon word 'cunneag' meaning 'milk pail' and 'ham' meaning 'village'; otherwise it may be from the word 'ingas' meaning 'people' and 'ham' (as in Coldingham, the village of the people of Colud), the origin of the 'cunn' element having been lost. In any case it is clear that Cunninghams descend from Warnebald, who preferred to call himself 'de Cunningham' rather than 'de Kilmaurs' or 'de Kilwinning'.  Warnebald obviously came from good stock since the Cunninghams prospered; in 1263 we find Hervey de Cunningham supporting his king with an army of peasant-warriors against the Norsemen at the battle of Largs, fought on the beach very close to the Cunningham lands. The Norsemen were driven off and a grateful king confirmed Hervey as legal owner of all the Kilmaurs lands in the following year.  In the 15th century Cunningham of Kilmaurs became Lord Kilmaurs and later Earl of Glencairn, a title still held by the head of the clan. In the early 16th century, William, third Earl of Glencairn was entrusted with the (successful) negotiations for James V's marriage to Mary of Guise. By this time some judicious marriages on their own part meant that the Glencairn lands stretched from Port Glasgow on the Firth of Clyde south to Moniaive just north of Dumfries where the Cunninghams had built Glencairn Castle, now known as Maxwellton House.  Whilst the Kilmaurs Cunninghams flourished, junior branches of the family were settling lands elsewhere: notably at Polmaise and Auchenbowie, just south of Stirling and at Kilmaronock Castle by Loch Lomond. There were also some Cunninghams at Barns in Fife, at North Synton in the Borders and at Balfron in Dumbartonshire.  However the family's success in Ayrshire had led to conflict with another expansionist Norman family who had received lands a little further north in Renfrewshire - the Montgomerys. Relations might, in any case, have been strained in the troubled sixteenth century since the Montgomerys were strong supporters of Mary Queen of Scots and the Cunninghams were Protestant reformers (the Earl of Glencairn had John Knox dispense communion to him and his family privately at his house near Port Glasgow in 1556). The struggle for local domination was certainly on fire in 1528 when the Montgomerys sacked the Cunninghams' Kerelaw Castle and it came to a head in 1586 when Alexander Cunningham of Aiket, David Cunningham of Robertland and others killed Hugh Montgomery, 4th Earl of Eglinton near the Bridge of Annick. The Montgomery revenge was ruthless: they shot Alexander Cunningham near Aiket, cut David Cunningham to pieces then killed every other Cunningham they could find. However they did not find them all since the Montgomery seat of Eglinton Castle was then burnt in retaliation - and the feud rumbled on for another twenty years. In the next century the Earls of Glencairn continued prominent in national life: the 9th Earl raised an army for King Charles II in 1654 in an attempt to overthrow Cromwell's Scottish administration. The rising failed but when Charles II returned as king, he appointed Glencairn as his Chancellor of Scotland, a post he held from 1661 to 1664.  By coincidence, three Cunninghams were close friends of the Ayrshire bard, Robert Burns: James, fourteenth Earl of Glencairn (who was one of the poet's principal patrons and on whose death Burns wrote a moving lament) Sir William Cunningham of Robertland, and Alexander Cunningham the historical writer, to whom he wrote verses of which the first runs:   My godlike friend - nay! do not stare;  You think the phrase is odd-like!  But God is love the Saints declare  Then surely thou art God-like!   Living so close to the west coast, it is not surprising that many Cunninghams ventured into the Atlantic - settling in Northern Ireland and further afield. But when their descendants return to their roots in Ayrshire they find that most of the prominent Cunningham castles - Clonbeith, Robertland, Kerelaw and Glengarnock - are now in ruins. Kilmaurs, Aiket, and Caprington Castle survive, although much altered, and are in private hands. Only one of the Cunningham houses is open to the public each summer: this is Finlaystone three miles east of Port Glasgow (where the Earl of Glencairn entertained John Knox) and which now houses an exhibition on the MacMillan clan. Maxwellton House in Dumfriesshire is now a private house but the gardens are open to the public. Dean Castle, north of Kilmarnock, which the Earls of Glencairn had for some thirty years in the late 18th century, is open to the public all year round but is really the family seat of the Boyds, Earls of Kilmarnock.    The Cunninghams were essentially a successful farming people and for many centuries the headline events - affairs of state, murder and revenge - had little impact on the families that eked out a living beside the Annick Water. They were not much involved in war, being more pre-occupied with their milking pails - and as the family motto has it, with "Over Fork Over".  

Craigengillan, Dalmellington.    

Craigengillan is set amidst the hills of the Southern Uplands of Scotland some 16 miles east of Ayr by Dalmellington. Craigengillan was first established as an estate in 1580, when it encompassed over 30,000 acres stretching as far as Carsphairn. The founding family, the McAdams, and their descendants, remained the proprietors until 1999.    The present day look of Craigengillan is from work carried out in the 1780's. This time saw the earliest parts of the present mansion built and layout of the landscape such as woodlands, granite stone dykes and the first of the stone bridges across the River Doon. Today the estate consists of 3000 acres of woodland, pasture and water providing a diverse habitat. The farm, with full organic status, carries a flock of 1200 black faced ewes. The estates website www.craigengillan.com gives more images and information on its riding school.  

Craigie Old curling building   

No info ! Just say Mo back to the cow J 

Craigneil Castle, Colmonell  

This impressive ruin dates from the 13th century, and in its time served as a hiding place of Robert the Bruce, a feudal prison and a place of execution.  http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/263053  

Culzean Castle  

Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire coast is the most visited property of the National Trust for Scotland. Built in the late sixteenth century above a network of caves, the castle became a centre for smuggling during the eighteenth century.  Sir Thomas Kennedy, 9th Earl of Cassillis, went on an extended grand tour in the 1750s and returned full of ideas as to how to improve his vast estates and home.  His brother and heir commissioned Robert Adam to create his masterpiece and became bankrupt as a result. The estate was rescued when wealthy American cousins inherited it in 1792. from
The 'Magnificent Castle' of Culzean and the Kennedy Family      

Holy Trinity Church; Trinity Free Church, Irvine.   

Venetian Gothic church with polychrome stonework and pointed arches typical of the style. Built of bull-faced coursed rubble with contrasting stugged dressings, the façade features red sandstone ashlar band courses and alternating voussoirs, detailed with foliaceous carving, much weathered in places. Steeply pitched stone finialled gables with polychrome sunburst masonry support the steep roofs.
The west entrance elevation features a polygonal stone spire with contrasting fishscale bandings recessed to the left with a gabled porch.
The interior, although much lost, is articulated with 4 ornately carved stone columns supporting finely carved capitals.
A church hall adjoins to the rear via a polygonally roofed chapterhouse. The church was built for the Rev. William Robertson, known as the 'Poet Preacher' on account of his lyrical sermons.  

Dumfries House 

 Dumfries House 13 miles east of Ayr by Cumnock was designed and built by the Adam brothers (Robert and John) for the Fifth Earl of Dumfries. Completed in 1758, the magnificent Palladian mansion set in a 750 acre estate is one of the grandest and most imposing designs of any house in Scotland.  However, its principal heritage is said to be the interiors. Furniture comprises one of the most outstanding eighteenth century collections in any house in the United Kingdom with magnificent examples of the work of Thomas Chippendale and such Edinburgh craftsmen as Alexander Peter and William Mathie. It is arguably the most complete and in-tact collection surviving in any Scottish country house with the pieces still remaining in-situ in the locations originally designed for them by Robert Adam.  The present owner (Marquess of Bute) said he has chosen to sell the property in order to concentrate on his estate on Bute, saying that he never lived in Dumfries House, and thought of it more as his grandmother's home. The National Trust for Scotland was invited to raise the funds required to secure the property and its contents. The Trusts first valuation of the property has been turned down. It is now unclear if the property may be sold at auction with the contents sold in lots. 27/06/2007, The Scottish Government along with a newly-formed consortium has reached agreement with the Marquis of Bute to purchase the 18th century Dumfries House and its collection to safeguard it for the nation. The announcement of the agreement came on this day from Prince Charles who brought together the consortium to fund the acquisition of the house. The Scottish Government, through Historic Scotland, is contributing £5 million towards the £45 million total cost of the project. The business plan limits the financial involvement of the Scottish government. The house will be run by an independent trust, the Great Steward's Dumfries House Trust. It is hoped it will open to the public next year.  From Times OnlineJune 27, 2007 Prince Charles saves Dumfries House for nation(Christies/PA)Dumfries House, the Palladian mansion in Ayrshire that Prince Charles has saved for the nationImage :1 of 2 Jenny Booth The Prince of Wales has led a successful £45 million bid to save one of Britain’s most important stately homes for the nation.  Dumfries House in Ayrshire, and its unique collection of Chippendale furniture, was put up for sale this spring by its former racing driver owner, the aristocrat and sportsman Johnny Bute.  Today it was confirmed that the property has been bought by a consortium of charities and trusts following last-ditch negotiations.  The imposing Palladian mansion was designed 250 years ago by the Adam brothers and sits in nearly 2,000 acres of countryside near Cumnock, in the south-west of Scotland.  Earl ‘Johnny’ causes a stir with family silver The top 10 posh sports stars Its contents include one of the greatest collections of Chippendale furniture in the world - most of the pieces designed by the Adam brothers for the house, and still in situ in the spots they were designed for.  The whole estate was due to be auctioned in a few weeks’ time, with original estimates putting a price of around £20 million on both the house and its contents.  The funding to save it from the auctioneer's hammer came from a consortium made up of charities, trusts and the Scottish Executive, and was put together by the Prince of Wales in the last few months.  The £45 million project value announced today comprises £25 million from the Scottish Executive and the different charities, as well as a £20 million contribution from the Prince’s Charities Foundation.  The total sum covers the purchase of the house, the land and its contents as well as the creation of a new trust to run the house as a public attraction.  A further 66 acres of land in the Cumnock area with development potential is also included, and it is hoped that the house will become a driver for economic regeneration in that part of Scotland.  Mark Leishman, the Prince’s deputy private secretary, said that Charles was “very relieved” that the house has been saved, and grateful to all those who worked on the deal.  He said: “The Prince was aware of the story of the house over the recent years and was determined to do something to save it for the nation, first of all because of its historic significance and extraordinary contents.  “And almost as important is the fact that the house and its contents will become a driver for the economic regeneration of this part of south west Scotland.”  The £25 million contribution is made up from the Monument Trust (£9 million), the National Heritage Memorial Fund (£7 million), the Scottish Executive (£5 million), the Art Fund (£2.25 million), the Garfield Weston Foundation (£1 million); Sir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary Settlement (£250,000), and the Dunard Fund (250,000 US dollars - £125,000).  Alex Salmond, First Minister for Scotland, said that he was delighted at the outcome of the bid, and hoped the project could boost tourism in that part of Scotland.  He said: “When His Royal Highness told me of his plans, I was determined to do what we could to help.  “The house and its exquisite furniture collection are internationally acclaimed - a world-class product of the Scottish Enlightenment. I want them to become a showcase for a newly confident Scotland.”  Mr Bute, 49, who is the current Marquess of Bute and raced under the name Johnny Dumfries, but was born Sir John Colum Crichton-Stuart, first announced his intention to sell Dumfries House three years ago.  He said he wanted to restructure his family’s finances and concentrate on his family home, Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde.  Announcing the deal today, he said: “The formation of the Great Steward’s Dumfries House Trust, which will open Dumfries House and the estate for public access, is not only an important addition to Scotland’s cultural heritage but will also enhance the local economies of both Cumnock and Auchinleck.  “In parallel to this, the property development to be undertaken by the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment, should add substantially to the local economy as well as to the general regeneration of East Ayrshire.  “I would like to acknowledge the considerable contributions of time, effort and money applied to this project by all interested parties - especially to Prince Charles.”   

 Enterkine House   

The informally formal Country House. This privately owned, luxury five star country house hotel in the heart of Ayrshire is a hidden treasure. Approached by a long, winding avenue flanked by mature trees, you will feel you are leaving the real world behind.The trees part to reveal an elegant house, built originally as a private residence in the late 1930s, and now enjoying a new role as a beautifully appointed country house hotel.  While Enterkine is a perfect setting for a personal retreat, it is also ideal for corporate gatherings or private dinners where complete privacy and exclusivity is important. It is also a popular base for golf enthusiasts visiting Ayrshire. Alternatively, the hotel can arrange outdoor group activities from clay pigeon shooting to quad biking, off-road driving to fishing and archery. We are delighted to announce the arrival of our new luxury, special occasion Marquee which will be installed in August. This makes us Ayrshire's only venue with its own purpose built, permanent Marquee ideal for weddings, balls, conferences and other large scale corporate and private functions. Go to 'Weddings' for more information. 

Fairfield, Burial-Ground, Monkton      

No details of this :(

Fenwick Church of Scotland  

Built 1643, in the shape of a Greek cross, with four arms of equal length. Features of note include outside stairs to Rowallan loft with the coat of arms of the Mures of Rowallan above the door, crowstepped gables and the jougs on the south wall. Several Covenanting artefacts, including the battleflag of the Fenwick Covenanters. Walled graveyard contains several notable graves and monuments. It should be noted that there are cross shapes on the slated roofs ! HPG

 

Fullarton House  

A peaceful retreat on the outskirts of Troon, Fullarton Estate offers space to get away from the hustle and bustle. Traditional Scottish deciduous woodland consisting of many large beech, oak and horse chestnut trees, offers home to much birdlife and some animal life, mainly small woodland mammals such as squirrels and rabbits. In February the woodland is carpeted with snowdrops and later the spring brings daffodils, bluebells and rhododendrons to provide beautiful colour. There is plenty of space to play ball games, as there are sports pitches as well as open lawn area. There are many paths throughout the estate, which give scope for walkers, cyclists, joggers and orienteering. There is also a bridal path for horse riding. The Estate is free to visit and park within. The car park is well laid out and is adjacent to the toilets, the play park and several benches and picnic tables. The toilets are suitable for disabled use and have a parent nursing room. The play park is suitable for many ages as it is varied and interesting with swings, a chute, climbing frame, monkey bars, an ariel slide, climbing net and balancing beams, all made in sturdy wood which is in keeping with the park surroundings.

Fullarton House itself was demolished in 1966 however the two urn topped pillars which remain at the car park, are remains from the original house which had Robert Adams designed wings added to it in 1791 and which both Prince Louis Napolean Bonapart and Robert Burns are known to have visited during their lifetimes from historic records.

Crosbie Kirkyard lies to the south of Fullarton Estate. The church has been in ruins since the mid 18th century, local tradition claiming that the roof blew off the day that Robert Burns was born on 25th January 1759.

Well, Largs

Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae 

 

 Glenapp Castle was built in 1870 - a strikingly beautiful example of the Scottish Baronial style of architecture.  Designed by the celebrated architect David Bryce for Mr James Hunter, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, the castle’s mellow sandstone battlements are topped by soaring turrets and towers, earning Glenapp a rightful place as one of the most romantic castles in Scotland. The castle was purchased in 1917 by James Lyle Mackay, who later became the 1st Earl of Inchcape. The Inchcape family owned the castle until 1982, during which time they expanded the estate considerably and enlarged and altered the castle to its present form. Local hoteliers, the McMillan Family purchased the castle in June 1994, by which time it had, sadly, fallen into a very poor state of repair.  Their daughter and son-in-law, Fay and Graham Cowan, made the castle their home and embarked upon a lengthy restoration.Over the next six and a half years, the castle was completely restored and refurbished and Glenapp Castle and its beautiful gardens and grounds have now been returned to their former glory, retaining all of their original character and atmosphere.  Every room in the castle has been luxuriously decorated in traditional style, and furnished with carefully chosen antique furniture and original art (click to read the full story of the restoration). http://www.glenappcastle.com/history.htm 

Grotto Troon Seen on Fullarton Estate.

Hunterston Castle            

                                  

The construction on Hunterston Castle began about 800 years ago, in about the year 1200, by the Hunter family and it has been in the family ever since. It is one of the only castles in Scotland that still belongs to the original family. The Hunter family came to Britain with William the Conqueror, and then came to West Kilbride soon afterward. The castle has been restored and is in very good condition. The original castle was the smallest of the West Kilbride castles; it is only about 24 feet long by 21 feet wide and only 34 feet to the parapet. But it has been greatly extended over the years. Like the other castles, the entrance and Great Hall were on the first floor with a removable wooden stair for defense, although the castle was in a very good position for defense anyway. The area all round the castle was a dangerous swamp and only the local people knew the safe way through it. At one time, the castle did also had a moat. The swamps were drained about 150 to 200 years ago and are now farmland. The original way into the ground floor was down through a trap door from the first floor above and you can still see the trap door. But about 200 years after the castle was built a stairway tower was built onto the castle to give a ground floor entrance to the building and comfortable stairs to the main hall on the first floor. The Pele Tower was probably built in the mid-thirteenth century, constructed in local sandstone. It replaced a timber fortress. A fine barrel-vaulted roof supports the foundation of the huge weight of stone above. In times of danger the ground floor room was used for storage for food and the animals, it also had a well.The Old Hall served as the main living room until the Great Hall was added in the 16th. century by John Hunter, 14th Laird. It is complemented by a very fine set of staghorn furniture from Bavaria.The Old Hall now opens into the Great Hall. The most notable feature of this room is the handsome fireplace with a fine carving of the Hunter Coat of Arms.A spiral staircase leads from the Old Hall to the bedroom above, in which all the immediate Hunter family would have slept. In was in this room that Robert Caldwell Hunter was born in 1799. In that year his parents commenced the building of Hunterston House.Hunterston Castle is unique in that it has its original roof beams with the carpenters marks clearly visible. The roof beams are a excellent example of medieval carpentry, constructed with mortice and tenon joints secured with pegs.The parapet is narrow to assist with defense, as the early Hunters used crossbows for defending the Castle. The south wall has a machicolation to make defending the front door easier. The front door was on the first floor at this time in common with other Castles of this period. http://www.hunterclanusa.org/Castlehistory.htmNote, if you open the above link turn your sound down first  J 

 

Hunterston House 

Mungo Huntar, 16th Laird, died at the Battle of Pinkie (Edinburgh) 1547 whilst fighting for the young Mary Queen of Scots against the English intent on Mary marrying into the English royalty.1799, work to build Hunterston House next to the castle began for Eleanor & Robert Hunter. The completion of the house saw the castle used as servant quarters.   Gould Hunter-Weston, 26th Laird, fought at Lucknow/India in 1857. His eldest son Aylmer, 27th Laird, was a respected General in the World War One. He later became an MP for North Ayrshire. Clan Chief, Eleanora, 28th Laird, lost a court battle to prevent a nuclear PowerStation being built on the land of Hunterston.The present Clan Chief, Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterston, 30th Laird, has developed the Clan Hunter Associations, which with the aid of the Internet, is now worldwide. Kelburn Castle Kelburn is thought to be the oldest castle in Scotland to have been continuously inhabited by the same family. Orginally the family name was de Boyville but this changed over the years to Boyle . The de Boyvilles from Caen in Normandy came over to Britain with William the Conqueror in 1066 and the present branch of the family settled in Kelburn in 1140.Nobody knows for certain when a stone building was first constructed on the site, but the original Norman Keep, designed for defence rather than comfort, was probably built by 1200. The original Norman Keep is now enclosed within a grander castle, completed in 1581 by the then Laird, David Boyle, at a time when the family was emerging from relative obscurity and beginning to wield some influence within the local community. The 1581 castle can be clearly distinguished from the more recent parts of the building by its two impressive towers on opposite corners.During the troubled seventeenth century, the Boyles of Kelburn became wealthy through shipping and shipbuilding. In the later part of the century, they became deeply committed to public service and John Boyle, the father of the first Earl of Glasgow, working for Customs and Excise, attempted to stamp out smuggling on the Ayrshire Coast. He subsequently became a Crown Commissioner, administering the Bute Estates and later the Argyll Estates when these families fell foul of the State.John's son, David Boyle (1666-1733) was a distinguished Scottish statesman, a privy councillor and Lord of the Treasury among other appointments, and it was he who was created Earl of Glasgow in 1703, one of the last of the Scottish peerages. He was one of the leading figures in the forming of the Act of Union in 1707 which united the English and Scottish parliaments and he is sometimes charged with being responsible for bribing impoverished Jacobites within the Scottish Parliament to vote against their natural instincts. The First Earl was also High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Rector of Glasgow University, an honour which may explain why he chose the name of Glasgow for his title.It was the First Earl who made the most interesting addition to Kelburn Caste. He planned and ordered a new mansion house to be built and joined to the existing castle, with a new and grander front door facing north. It was completed in 1700, and this larger home was now called Kelburn House, because castles had become unfashoinable at the time and regarded as primitive and uncomfortable. The large drawing room, a double cube, with its high cornice and large sash windows, was designed as the grand dining room, and is regarded today by some architectural historians as the most beautiful room in Scotland. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Earls of Glasgow became very considerable landowners.They acquired their land either through legacies from other branches of the Boyle family or through judicious marriages to noble ladies with inheritances of their own. When the sixth Earl of Glasgow inherited the title in 1869, he also inherited all the Boyle Estates. Besides Kelburn, this included land in Dalry, Stewarton, Corshill and Fenwick, and the estate of Hawkhead outside Paisley, plus estates in Dunbartonshire, Fife, Northumberland and the greater part of Cumbrae, the island which lies directly across the water from Kelburn. He also ran six large full-staffed residences. Hawkhead in Paisley, Crawford Priory in Fife, the Garrison on Cumbrae (which he also built), town houses in Perth and Edinburgh, and Kelburn itself.Unfortunately for the Boyle family, he was caught up in the religious controversies of the day, particularly the Oxford movement, and he ran into debt building and endowing Episcopal churches all over Scotland, including a Cathedral in Perth and one on Cumbrae. By 1888 he found himself owing nearly one million pounds, and his cousin, David Boyle of Stewarton, later 7th Earl of Glasgow, sold his own lands near Irvine in order to raise the money to buy back the Kelburn Estate at auction. All the rest was lost to the family.However, before disaster struck, the sixth Earl allowed a Victorian wing to be built onto Kelburn enclosing one of the 1581 towers. This new addition includes the impressive dining room with its original William Morris wallpaper, its family portraits and wonderful views over the Firth of Clyde.The seventh Earl, who was Governor of New Zealand from 1892 to 1898, and the eighth and ninth Earls, were all distinguished naval officers. When not at sea, they spent most of their lives at Kelburn, attempting to find sufficient resources to keep it maintained.The present tenth Earl of Glasgow and his wife, Isabel, started Kelburn Country Centre in 1977, opening most of Kelburn's grounds and gardens to the public and introducing new attractions. The castle too has recently been open for guided tours at specific times of the year and it is available for functions and private parties at all times.         

 

Kelburn Castle  

 Kelburn is thought to be the oldest castle in Scotland to have been continuously inhabited by the same family. Orginally the family name was de Boyville but this changed over the years to Boyle . The de Boyvilles from Caen in Normandy came over to Britain with William the Conqueror in 1066 and the present branch of the family settled in Kelburn in 1140.Nobody knows for certain when a stone building was first constructed on the site, but the original Norman Keep, designed for defence rather than comfort, was probably built by 1200. The original Norman Keep is now enclosed within a grander castle, completed in 1581 by the then Laird, David Boyle, at a time when the family was emerging from relative obscurity and beginning to wield some influence within the local community. The 1581 castle can be clearly distinguished from the more recent parts of the building by its two impressive towers on opposite corners.During the troubled seventeenth century, the Boyles of Kelburn became wealthy through shipping and shipbuilding. In the later part of the century, they became deeply committed to public service and John Boyle, the father of the first Earl of Glasgow, working for Customs and Excise, attempted to stamp out smuggling on the Ayrshire Coast. He subsequently became a Crown Commissioner, administering the Bute Estates and later the Argyll Estates when these families fell foul of the State.John's son, David Boyle (1666-1733) was a distinguished Scottish statesman, a privy councillor and Lord of the Treasury among other appointments, and it was he who was created Earl of Glasgow in 1703, one of the last of the Scottish peerages. He was one of the leading figures in the forming of the Act of Union in 1707 which united the English and Scottish parliaments and he is sometimes charged with being responsible for bribing impoverished Jacobites within the Scottish Parliament to vote against their natural instincts. The First Earl was also High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Rector of Glasgow University, an honour which may explain why he chose the name of Glasgow for his title.It was the First Earl who made the most interesting addition to Kelburn Caste. He planned and ordered a new mansion house to be built and joined to the existing castle, with a new and grander front door facing north. It was completed in 1700, and this larger home was now called Kelburn House, because castles had become unfashoinable at the time and regarded as primitive and uncomfortable. The large drawing room, a double cube, with its high cornice and large sash windows, was designed as the grand dining room, and is regarded today by some architectural historians as the most beautiful room in Scotland. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Earls of Glasgow became very considerable landowners.They acquired their land either through legacies from other branches of the Boyle family or through judicious marriages to noble ladies with inheritances of their own. When the sixth Earl of Glasgow inherited the title in 1869, he also inherited all the Boyle Estates. Besides Kelburn, this included land in Dalry, Stewarton, Corshill and Fenwick, and the estate of Hawkhead outside Paisley, plus estates in Dunbartonshire, Fife, Northumberland and the greater part of Cumbrae, the island which lies directly across the water from Kelburn. He also ran six large full-staffed residences. Hawkhead in Paisley, Crawford Priory in Fife, the Garrison on Cumbrae (which he also built), town houses in Perth and Edinburgh, and Kelburn itself.Unfortunately for the Boyle family, he was caught up in the religious controversies of the day, particularly the Oxford movement, and he ran into debt building and endowing Episcopal churches all over Scotland, including a Cathedral in Perth and one on Cumbrae. By 1888 he found himself owing nearly one million pounds, and his cousin, David Boyle of Stewarton, later 7th Earl of Glasgow, sold his own lands near Irvine in order to raise the money to buy back the Kelburn Estate at auction. All the rest was lost to the family.However, before disaster struck, the sixth Earl allowed a Victorian wing to be built onto Kelburn enclosing one of the 1581 towers. This new addition includes the impressive dining room with its original William Morris wallpaper, its family portraits and wonderful views over the Firth of Clyde.The seventh Earl, who was Governor of New Zealand from 1892 to 1898, and the eighth and ninth Earls, were all distinguished naval officers. When not at sea, they spent most of their lives at Kelburn, attempting to find sufficient resources to keep it maintained.The present tenth Earl of Glasgow and his wife, Isabel, started Kelburn Country Centre in 1977, opening most of Kelburn's grounds and gardens to the public and introducing new attractions. The castle too has recently been open for guided tours at specific times of the year and it is available for functions and private parties at all times.         

 

 

 

 

 

Kennedy Mausoleum Ballantrae 

 

Glengarnock / Kilbirnie  Castle, Ayrshire.   

Set upon a remote promontary above Glengarnock Water, this very ruined 15thc keep was defended by a deep ditch across the approaches.In the 12th and 13th centuries, the de Morville Constables of Scotland held the estates here, though it passed to the Riddels , then the Cunninghames. Mary Queen of Scots inevitably visited the castle, in 1563.It had been abandoned by the 18thc, and used as a stone quarry. It partially collapsed in 1839 during a storm, but was consolidated in 1841. 

Killochan Castle

 

 Killochan Castle stands on the banks of the Girvan, about three miles from the town.  It is a tall tower, with a spiral staircase at one corner, from which all the apartments enter.  Over the door is inscribed the words:- "This work was begun the 1 of Marche 1586 be Johne Cathcart of Carlton and Helene Wallace his spous"; and then follows the pious reminder - "The name of the Lord is ane strang tour and the rychteous in thair troublis rinnis unto it and findeth refuge."  Not far from the Castle, in the middle of a field sloping down to the Girvan, stands a huge boulder of grey granite, about 37 tons in weight, and 13 yards in circumference, called the "Baron's Stone."  Geikie, the Geologist, wrote an article on it, sketching its history, telling how it once formed part of a cliff, 2000 feet over its present site, far away among the hills of Loch Doon, and was borne hither on a field of ice, after having travelled a distance of at least 18 miles.  In historical times, it formed the "Hill of Justice" of the barons of Killochan, where they mustered their men, planned their raids, shared their booty, and hanged their refractory prisoners.Killochan belongs to a family of great antiquity in the district - the Cathcarts.  So far back do their records extend, that I have seen a copy of one of their charters which was granted by Edward Bruce, King of Ireland, about the year 1317, and confirmed by his brother, the great King Robert, seven years after.  In this charter, the land is held on condition of the Baron furnishing to the King "three sufficient spears on Christmas day at our head manor of Turnberry"; and that this was  no empty claim is shown by the fact that Robert Cathcart of Killochan was one of the nobles who fell at Flodden in 1513.  In the faction feuds of the district, the Killochan family, as might have been expected, sided with the Bargany Kennedys; and in the fray near Maybole, where the Laird of Bargany was killed, the young Laird of Carleton led the second detachment of Bargany's forces. 

Kilmaurs jougs   

 

As the new burgh grew, the tolbooth came to lie at its heart, serving as meeting place for local worthies and the magistrate, as a collection point for customs dues, and as a place of imprisonment and punishment for miscreants. The tolbooth is still known locally as the jougs after the iron neck ring and chain still attached to the external wall near the tower steps.

 

Kirkhill Castle, Colmonell 

A typical small fortalice of the late 16th century standing close to the more modern mansion which has superseded it.

It has an L-plan three storeys and a garret in height with corner turrets at the main block angles. The castle has been long roofless, but the walls, of mortared rubble are fairly complete although the interior is ruinous. It bears the date 1589.
Formerly known as Glebelands, the property came into the possession of the Kennedys before the Reformation and was held by them until 1843 when it was bought by Col Barton of Ballaird, a hero of Waterloo. 

Kirklandside Hospital

The 'Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kilmarnock' opened in 1910

Kirk Oswald Church 

 

Kirk Oswald was dedicated to St Oswald (Oswald, king of Northumbria, slain in battle in 641 (W J Watson 1926)). It was given to Paisley Abbey by the Earl of Carrick; the grant was confirmed by Florence, Bishop-elect of Glasgow (1202-6). Now roofless, it stands within a burial ground. It is a simple oblong on plan, measuring 93ft 6ins by 28ft 4ins externally. It seems to have consisted of plain walls, but within modern times it has been converted into a mausoleum by building up the windows and adding buttresses to the S side. The pointed blank windows and doorway in the S wall are also modern additions. Though at first sight the building appears ancient, closer examination shows that it has been modernised beyond recognition. It was replaced in 1777 by the present church =
This church, now roofless and disused, is a simple oblong building, as described, composed of mortared rubble masonry, now almost completely ivy-covered. It stands on ground sloping N-S.                              

Kirkton Jeans Hotel 

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken at the Kirkton Jeans Hotel; the site was situated to the rear of property that was probably built in the late 18th century. The evaluation uncovered the remains of an outside toilet/coal bunker and boiler house, presumed to post-date the construction of the original cottage.Now in a sad state L

Knock Castle Largs  

Knock Castle: The remains of this small mansion or castle stands on the edge of a stream and command an extensive view to the W. It consists of a rectangular block, one part of which is in ruins, and the other roofed. It is on the Z-plan with a complete and restored round tower at the SW angle, and the remains of another at the NE angle. The latter is about 3.0m high. A courtyard wall has a door in it, and it is possible that buildings abutted this.
A modern parapet with angle turret surmounts this wall which bears a stone inscribed "Repaired in 1853." This wall also contains stones (not in situ) dated '1603' and '1604', the initials 'I B' being on the latter. The whole building has been restored and, in parts, modernised. Walls are only 0.6m thick. No other traces of courtyard wall are visible.

Knockdolian Castle 

In ancient records of sasine a prominent McCubbin family line begins to appear; firstly, John Makcubyn who held the lands of Tradunnock in 1404. In 1511, Thomas M'Cubbin was proprietor of Tradunnock. (Tradunnock or Trudonag, is originally Welsh Gaelic, the language spoken in the Dark and Middle ages in the South of Scotland, and is supposed to mean Betony-Homestead. Betony is a plant of the mint family said to have medicinal powers against poisons, demons and witches). Apparently, the descendants of this family, Fergus M'Cubbin and his spouse, Margaret Kennedy occupied Knockdolian Castle at Colmonell about the middle of the seventeenth century. It had been built on the foundation of a much more ancient structure of the knightly family of the Grahams. The McCubbins were known to have greatly improved the lands. This family's course in history would greatly change during the Covenanting times. Some would be leaving their homeland never to return. In times of crisis, famine or war it was sometimes safer to move family and flocks to another safer or more economically attractive residence. Such escapes were often followed within a generation by a return to the original homeland once conditions there had returned to normal. It is understandable that the family histories of many of the surnames represented in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the England are quite confused. In the early 1600's Ireland was the primary destination for migrating Scots because it provided opportunities that Scotland couldn't offer-- and Scots were not welcome in English colonies. An unknown number of Scots fled back to Scotland in the 1630's to avoid religious persecution.

Knockdolian Castle Modern   

Do details on this fine building L 

Knockusion Marker, Girvan   

Kyle Castle near Cumnock

 

 

Kyle castle near Cumnock is situated on a raised promontory of land at the confluence of the Guelt and Glenmuir waters.Little remains of the original castle, nevertheless it is still an impressive sight, occupying as it does a commanding position between the rivers.Constucted in ashlar masonry, it is typical of a 15th-16th century keep.Interestingly it is the only "Kyle Castle" in the Kingdom of Kyle as depicted in Timothy Ponts 16th century map of Scotland.

Ladykirk House 

 Ladykirk Chapel 

 

 

The estate of Ladykirk is to be found a few miles east of Monkton. It was here, in Ladykirk Chapel, which has all but vanished, that Robert II (the first Stewart king) married Elizabeth Mure of Rowallan, mother of Robert III.

 Ladyland Castle   

Ladyland Castle, described by Pont about 1609 as 'a strong tower', was demolished in 1815, except for a part of the N wall, 20ft long, 25ft high, and 6ft thick. A date stone, now over the entrance to the adjoining garden, bears the initials WHIB and date Anno 1669. The date no doubt refers to some repairs as the present remains are part of the tower noted by Pont.

The remains of Ladyland Castle are generally as described. A fragment of E wall, 2.0m.long, remains to form the NE angle. The interior of this angle is overgrown and choked with rubble. No trace of any foundations are visible in a rose garden S of the wall fragment 

Ladyland House 

Sundial Ladyland House 

Laigh Milton Mill  

Laigh Milton mill still stands, but is now in a ruinous condition (2007).

Law Castle 

In the fifteenth century Law Castle was constructed as a wedding gift for Princess Mary, the eldest daughter of James II of Scotland upon her marriage to Thomas Boyd the Earl of Arran. Six hundred years later, it is available for rent as Scotland's most luxurious and exclusive holiday home.
What is now the formal great hall of this comfortable but unusual home once served as a courtroom - and comes complete with a pit prison behind a flagstone trap door. There's also a 'murder hole' through which hot oil could have been poured over unwelcome visitors outside. Having fallen into a state of disrepair, the Grade A listed building has been restored to an immaculate standard. The kitchen has modern appliances side by side with medieval ovens and a chimney rising to the parapet. A spiral stone staircase connects the five floors. On the ground floor there are two vaulted rooms, one a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, and the other a utility room. On the first floor there is The Great Hall and kitchen, and on the levels above five bedrooms and a sitting room . Many of the shuttered windows dotted around the castle have seats in small chambers set into the thickness of the wall. The staircase continues to the roof level, where there is an unusual 'Caphouse', formerly the guards' lookout. There are views over the quiet village of West Kilbride towards the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran. This landmark property lies in its own grounds at the foot of Law Hill, just inland from the Ayrshire coast.

See the link below for more information http://clanboyd.info/history/lawcastle/

 

Castle Levan

 

 

The castle has its origins in the late 14th century and was subject to an exhaustive restoration project through the 1980s which won an award in 1989 for the best domestic restoration in Inverclyde.Refurbished with great sympathy and an eye on historical authenticity, the upgrading was achieved with the approval of Historic Scotland and under the supervision of Edinburgh architect, Ian Begg. Period materials were resourced with a view to create, not a mere period piece, but an elegant, spacious and comfortable family home. The castle, which is grade B listed, is one of historical significance occupying a dominant situation and consists of two towers joined at one corner dating from two periods. The castle was originally constructed in approximately 1457 on the site which is believed to have archaeological links to an earlier possible Roman site. Constructed by the Morton family, the second tower was added approximately 50 years later. In 1547 the castle was sold to the Semple family and this exchange has given rise to the appearance of the White Lady whose apparition dates from a period where Marion Montgomery was sentenced to death for the murder of her tenants, by Mary of Guise, mother of Mary Queen of Scots, but later the sentence was commuted to house arrest. On his return from military service Marion's husband was so appalled to hear of his wife's behaviour that he imprisoned her and starved her to death.In the 17th century, Castle Levan was taken over by the Shaw Stewarts, owners of the neighbouring Ardgowan estate, who installed their son into Levan. It was during this era that the White Lady, assumed to be Marion Montgomery, was reported as appearing at the castle. The castle fell into disrepair on the construction of a new manor house in its gardens. The programme of the refurbishment and reconstruction of the castle began in 1980 and the full refurbishment was achieved between 1984 and 1987. White Lady of Castle Levan
Castle Levan is reputed to have a ghost - not that we've ever seen her! A former keeper of Castle Levan, Lady Marion Montgomery was convicted and sentenced to death by Mary of Guise (mother of Mary Queen of Scots) for torturing and murdering her tenants. This sentence was later commuted to house arrest (I don't suppose her tenants appreciated this leniency). However, on his return from military service, Marion's husband was so appalled to hear of his wife's behaviour that he imprisoned Marion and starved her to death.In the 17th Century, Castle Levan was taken over by the Semple-Stewarts of the neighbouring Ardgowan estate who installed their son into Levan. It is during this era that a 'White Lady', assumed to Marion Montgomery, was reputed to haunt the castle.Some have suggested, however, that the story of the White Lady was concocted by the young Semple-Stewart (weary of the idea of living in a stuffy old fashioned castle) as a means of persuading his father to stump-up the cash needed to build him a fashionable new house.    

Loudon Castle Galston

Loudoun Castle is an imposing ruin by any standard, fascinatingly romantic on a warm summer afternoon, gaunt and forbidding on a cold winter evening.

The shell you see today is of a building created in the early 1800s by Flora Mure-Campbell, Countess of Loudoun in her own right and through marriage Marchioness of Hastings. There were earlier structures on the site of the present castle which itself replaced another castle half a mile to the east - Arclowdun - reputedly sacked by the Kennedys of Culzean in a raid in medieval times. The earliest part of the building incorporated in the present ruins is thought to have been a four storey keep, probably built by the Craufurds of Loudoun in the 1400s. This keep was some 30 feet by 20 feet with walls at least six feet thick and its foundations lie deep and inaccessible in the present ruins. The First Earl of Loudoun, Sir John Campbell, Chancellor of Scotland, erected additional buildings to the south of the old keep which were also incorporated in the later rebuilding. It is thought that this work was carried out about the time of the creation of the Earldom of Loudoun in 1601. These additions were overseen by "Matho Fulton", Master Mason whose monument can be seen in Loudoun Kirk.

Loudoun Kirk lies half a mile to the west of the Castle and is the traditional burial place of the Loudoun family and many local people. Now a near ruin, Loudoun Kirk was established by the monks of Fail in memory of Sir John Campbell at the behest of his widow in 1457. A local voluntary society 'Friends of Loudoun Kirk' has been set up to safeguard this ancient and sacred place.
Local records show that the work was going on in the early part of 1714 to stake out the walks around the parterre on the third Earl's "Great Plan" along with a number of internal improvements to the Castle. These were organised by Alex McGill whose descendent John McGill is now active in researching the history of the castle. Domestic problems are not limited to the present day as on April 27 1714, Mr Mcgill reported to the Earl that he could not get any "of those white tiles for my Lady's bedroom so must be doing with blue and white for some time". There were also plans at that time to find a place for a "menagerie" and for "a house of entertainment". These were not, as far as we know, carried out, but perhaps the present developments at Loudoun are not so far removed from the thoughts of the third Earl. The present castle was built for Flora, Countess of Loudoun to encompass both the 17th century