Ardmillan Castle is a ruinous Scottish castle dating from the late 16th century.
It lies on the A77 on the edge of the
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde, is the estuary of the River Clyde, on the west coast of Scotland. The Firth has some of the deepest coastal waters of the British Isles. The Firth is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre, Kintyre Peninsula. The ...
south of
Girvan
Girvan (, "mouth of the River Girvan") is a burgh and harbour town in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Girvan is situated on the east coast of the Firth of Clyde, with a population of about 6,450. It lies south of Ayr, and north of St ...
.
History
The original structure was built in the late 16th century on a low mound. It was originally a rectangular tower with circular towers on the corners. The two northern towers have been removed.
It was built and owned by the Kennedys of Bargany until 1658, it then passing through marriage to the Crawfords of Baidland. By 1688 it had a
motte
A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or Bailey (castle), bailey, surrounded by a protective Rampart (fortificati ...
(wide ditch) built on all sides.
In the 18th century a classical wing and new formal front was added and it took on more of the appearance of a house rather than a fortification, and was sometimes referred to as Ardmillan House.
By 1892 it had an enclosed courtyard built at its base.
It suffered in a fire in the early 20th century and again in 1973 leaving the property ruinous. The grounds have been used as a caravan park since 1980.
[https://canmore.org.uk/site/62078/ardmillan-castle]
References
Castles in Scotland
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