Kilberry Castle is a Category B listed country house near

Kilberry Kilberry () is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is close to the western coast of the district of Knapdale. Kilberry Castle, just to the west of the village, was built in 1497 as a L-plan castle by a cadet branch of Clan Campbell. The ...

in South Knapdale in the county of Argyll, in western Scotland on the shores of the

Sound of Jura The Sound of Jura () is a Sound in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is one of the several Sounds of Scotland. It is to the east of the island of Jura and the west of Knapdale, in the north of the Kintyre Peninsula, of the Scottish mainland. ...

History and architecture

The castle is said to have been built at the end of the fifteenth century. The MacMurachies are understood to have owned the castle under the Lords of the Isles and they were followed by the Earls of Argyll. Eventually the Campbells of Kilberry took up residence in the early 16th century. During the civil war the castle was besieged by royalist forces between 1643 and 1645. In 1733 the Campbell mausoleum was built by Dugald Campbell 6th of Kilberry. The castle was accidentally burned down in 1772 or 1773. Although it continued to be occupied, a proper restoration was not undertaken until 1844 when John Campbell, 5th of Knockbury and 9th of Kilberry commissioned its rebuilding in 1844 by the architect

David Bryce David Bryce Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, FRSE FRIBA Royal Scottish Academy, RSA (3 April 1803 – 7 May 1876) was a Scotland, Scottish architect. Life Bryce was born at 5 South College Street in Edinburgh, the son of David B ...

. John Campbell, 6th of Knockbury and 10th of Kilberry commissioned further extensions in 1873 by

Charles Kinnear Charles George Hood Kinnear FRIBA Royal Scottish Academy, ARSA FRSE (30 May 1830 – 5 November 1894) was one half of Peddie & Kinnear partnership, one of Scotland’s most renowned and prodigious architectural firms. They were noted for their ...

of Edinburgh. The works were carried out by Mr Harris, builder of St Andrew’s. Following the death of Lt.-Col. John Campbell, 7th of Knockbury and 11th of Kilberry in 1928 the house was advertised for sale at which point it was described as having an estate of . John Campbell's daughter

Marion Campbell Francis Marion Campbell (May 25, 1929 – July 13, 2016) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a defensive lineman and was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelp ...

(later a noted archaeologist) inherited Kilberry Estate when she was 8 years old, following her father's death. The Kilberry Estate was sold to an older cousin, but Campbell regained possession of it once she turned 18. In 2021, Kilberry Castle was advertised for sale and has since been reintegrated into the Kilberry Estate. The castle, along with other historic buildings on the estate, is currently undergoing restoration. The renovation work is expected to be completed by 2027, with the castle set to be reinstated as a private residence for its current family owners.

References

{{Reflist Category B listed buildings in Argyll and Bute Country houses in Argyll and Bute Historic house museums in Argyll and Bute