Ardrossan Castle is situated on the west coast of Scotland in the town of Ardrossan, Ayrshire. The castle, defended by a moat, stands on a ridge above the town. There is a keep dating from the fifteenth century, and a vaulted range containing a kitchen and cellars. In a deep passageway there is a well. Part of the keep remains up to the corbels of the parapet, but it is in ruins. The original castle, owned by Clan Barclay, was partly destroyed during the Wars of Scottish Independence. This event, in which the English garrison was slaughtered, became known as "Wallace's Larder," a name which is still applied to the remaining vaults. Rebuilt by Clan Montgomery in the 15th century, Ardrossan later fell into disuse and was partially demolished by the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century who used the stones to help construct the Ayr Citadel. This castle is the subject for a ghostlore story featuring the ghost of William Wallace.
Quick Facts Coordinates, Type ...
| Ardrossan Castle |
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Ardrossan Castle |
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| Coordinates | 55.64°N 4.81°W / 55.64; -4.81 |
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| Type | Castle of enceinte |
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Open to
the public | No. Fenced and under video surveillance. (caution advised due to loose rocks) |
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| Condition | Ruined |
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| Built | around 1140 |
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| Built by | Simon de Morville |
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| Materials | stone wood and metal |
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Ardrossan Castle is situated upon a rocky hill, which gives it its name, made up of ard, meaning height, and rossan, a rocky promontory. The present ruins are on the site of an earlier castle owned by the Barclay family. By the thirteenth century it had passed to the Ardrossan family.[1]
The castle has long been deemed a distinctive feature of the town of Ardrossan. It was included, for example, in the tour book from 1847 titled Sylvan's Pictorial Handbook to the Clyde and its Watering-Places by Thomas and Edward Gilks. There the castle is described as a marker of regional identity and subject antiquarian interest, from which beautiful views of the ocean can be seen. The Gilks state that Ardrossan was originally called "Castle Crags", but was renamed Ardrossan after the family who owned it. At the time of writing the castle was the property of the Eglintoun family, though it was already ruined, and was adjacent to an old churchyard.[2]
Later history
The Earls of Eglington kept the castle, and the accounts for 1617 include "seventeen feet of rigging-stone" worked by a stonemason for repairs.[3]
In 1648 Oliver Cromwell's troops destroyed the castle, removing much of the stone and taking it to Ayr to build a fort, called the Ayr Citadel, there. The ruins of this castle still stand, but are in hazardous condition. The building has been designated a Scheduled monument.[4]
The castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of William Wallace, who is said to wander the ruins on stormy nights.[5]
The castle is also associated with the Devil. Sir Fergus Barclay, also known as "the De'il of Ardrossan", was a horseman, famous around the lands for his tremendous skill. The secret to his skill, however, was a magical bridle, which was given to Barclay by the Devil, in exchange for his soul. However, the Devil was tricked by Barclay into giving his soul back. Infuriated by this trickery, the Devil attacked the castle in his rage, and is said to have left his hoof prints on one of the rocks. Sir Fergus Barclay is buried in the castle chapel, situated a few hundred yards inland from the castle, further down the hill.[6]
Ardrossan Castle in 2002
Ardrossan Castle in 2002
Ardrossan Castle in 2002
William Fraser, Memorials of the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1859), p. xx.
