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private quarters was that it was feared that many of them would have been carrying disease. They slept here to stop them passing any ailments on to other guests. The guard room also sits on the first floor. The guard room has the only access to the dungeon in the castle, a small hole in the floor where prisoners were thrown in. A guard would always be present in this room to both guard the dungeon but also the only entrance to the castle, a small door above ground level, which is next to the guard room.
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private chamber of the Earls of
Kilmarnock has a complete model of the castle. Legend has it that after the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock was beheaded for treason in London on 18 August 1746 his head was carried back to Dean castle and was stored in a large chest which is still present in the Laigh Tower.
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The palace was mainly designed for comfort. On the ground floor of the palace was the kitchen with a large fireplace and oven. The first floor has the banqueting hall, and above on the second hall had bedrooms for the family. The original staircase leading up to the first floor was a wooden one which
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The present
Gatehouse was entirely built in 1935–36. It was never present in the original castle. However, it is carefully copied from real sixteenth-century buildings, including details like the windows with half-wooden shutters and half-leaded glass. The overall design and decorative but usable gun
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would play instruments and act for the Lord and Lady sitting below. Off the minstrel's gallery is the minstrels changing room, where the travelling players would change into their bright costumes. This room would also have been used by the minstrels to sleep in; the reason for them having their own
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Defence was not ignored in the construction of the palace. The tower has projecting battlements and Lord Boyd's private apartments were inside. This tower was known as the Laigh or Low Tower; although high, it is lower than the keep. Also the courtyard was protected by a high wall which was called
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The first floor is where the Great Hall with its large vaulted ceiling is situated. The Great Hall was mainly used for grand banquets and entertainment for the lord and his guests. Guests staying at the castle would have also slept on the floor of the Great Hall. The Hall also served as a court as
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The collections of arms and armour are on display in the Great Hall of the keep and the musical instruments are on display in the solar of the keep. The banqueting hall displays many items owned by East
Ayrshire council including Kilmarnock Edition of Robert Burns poetry and many works of art. The
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The first section of palace was built in the mid 1300s by Sir Robert Boyd (1st Lord Boyd) and his son Sir Thomas Boyd. The lands having been given to Sir Robert Boyd for his loyal service in the
Scottish Wars for Independence. In 1735 an accidental fire started in the kitchen of the palace, this
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in the walls of Dean Castle something which is very rare for a
Scottish castle of this time period, all of the shooting was done from the battlements at the top. In its current form, the keep houses many artefacts belonging to the Boyd family and medieval times in general, as well as various
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The grounds which house the castle, Dean Castle
Country Park, is 200 acres (80 hectares) in area and houses numerous wildlife animals. As the castle and grounds are open to the general public, there is access to cafes and play parks, as well as a Rural Life Centre and Visitor Centre.
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From 2020 until late 2022-early 2023, Dean Castle has undergone extensive restoration work to the main castle structure, including pointing work and amending structural issues and defects. East
Ayrshire Council, supported by East Ayrshire Leisure, receive an award in the sum of
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a large room, used as the private chambers for the Lord and Lady. The solar could be split into two using a large curtain, one half for Ladies and the other for men. There are two fireplaces in the solar one on each side for either sex. The solar also houses a small private
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fire then spread onto the thatched roof where it then spread onto the roof of the keep. The Castle was a complete ruin after this and had almost two centuries of neglect, although some of the buildings always remained in use. The resident of the castle
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to the family. A small ladies bowyer is present on this floor also. The castles third floor is on top of the keep where archers could defend the castle if attacked. On the third floor there is also a small set of apartments for soldiers to stay in.
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from the
Heritage Lottery Fund in order for the restoration and modernisation of Dean Castle to commence. The project has a total cost of £5.2million, with funding of £500,000 also secured from
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The story of the 4th Earl's head being kept in the castle has attracted many ghost hunters who have studied the castle and believe there is a presence in the palace. A large bust of
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or wooded valley, a common place name in
Scotland. Owned originally by the Boyd family, it has strong historical connections with many people and events famous in Scottish history.
480:, Aberdeenshire built in the 1580s. The wooden walkway around the wall guarding the palace was added in the restoration. The castle and gatehouse were designated as a Category A
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The keep has four floors and the ground floor housed the cellar which housed the original kitchen for the Great hall above. Also on the ground floor was the bottleneck
421:, a light show, was created in 2017 and by its second year had attracted over 80,000 visitors and had become one of the UK's most speculator illumination event.
504:. When the keep was originally built both the kitchen and dungeon could only be accessed from the first floor via a ladder, there were no doors leading outside.
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The Robert Burns World
Federation recently unveiled a plaque to the memory of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001.
442:. It was built mainly for defence, the walls are 2–3 metres thick, it has few windows, and the original entrance is high above ground level. There are no
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271:, who were lords of Kilmarnock for over 400 years, and is situated in a 200-acre (80-hectare) site situated within the Dean Castle Country Park.
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gave the castle, estate, his father's collections of arms and armour, and his grandfather's collection of musical instruments to the people of
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came into possession of the grounds of Dean Castle in 1316, when Sir Robert Boyd was rewarded the lands of Kilmarnock and West Kilbride by
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the lord would act as a judge passing verdicts and sentences for crimes committed in the surrounding area. The first floor also has a
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Dedicated to the victims of terrorism in the USA on 11 September 2001. Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn!
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inherited the castle he began its restoration. He completed the keep in 1908 and completed the restoration of the palace in 1946.
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the Barmkin. This protected the various other buildings housed in the courtyard, such as stables, stores and blacksmiths.
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ran up the outside of the building; however, due to the wet climate a stone staircase was later added inside the palace.
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The castle was sold by James Boyd in 1746 and the estate changed hands many times. When the
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and is free to access. There are daily tours of the castle which are also free. In 1975 the
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was launched in 2022 which features Christmas themed lights projected onto the castle.
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The castle and its ground have played host to numerous events in recent times.
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688:"Details confirmed for magical Illuminight-style festive event at Dean Castle"
584:"Dean Castle, Kilmarnock, History & Photos | historic Ayrshire Guide"
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696:. Glasgow, Scotland. 18 November 2022 – via dailyrecord.co.uk.
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had financial problems and could not afford to repair the castle.
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Floorplan of Dean Castle, showing dates of the buildings
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The Keep was built around 1350 by Sir Robert Boyd's son
780:The Boyd family tree – Dick Institute, Kilmarnock
381:is on display on the ground floor of the palace.
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748:"Dean Road, Dean Castle and Gatehouse (LB35884)"
620:"Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock – Castles"
606:"Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock – Castles"
306:who was encouraged to publish his poetry by the
871:The ambush and death of Sir Thomas Boyd in 1439
723:"Dean Road, Dean Castle Dower House (LB48713)"
350:Dean Castle and Country Park is maintained by
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894:(video & commentary) – via YouTube.
884:(video & commentary) – via YouTube.
874:(video & commentary) – via YouTube.
476:loops are copied from the gatehouse built at
302:was joined by the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock and
1127:Category A listed buildings in East Ayrshire
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278:until 1700, it gradually took its name from
783:Dean Castle Leaflet – East Ayrshire Council
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769:"Dean Castle: Outlander's Beaufort Castle"
207:The Boyd Family of the Burgh of Kilmarnock
42:Dean Castle seen from the air in mid–2023
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1137:Historic house museums in East Ayrshire
862:The Lordship & Barony of Kilmarnock
1162:Buildings and structures in Kilmarnock
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652:"Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock"
318:
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814:deancastlecountrypark.com/dean-castle
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294:, some of whom were imprisoned here;
1147:Military and war museums in Scotland
820:from the original on 21 January 2013
458:William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock
160:East Ayrshire Leisure, on behalf of
559:The castle featured in season 2 of
310:who owned the Castle at that time.
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13:
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634:"Dean Castle restoration project"
290:whose sister married a Boyd; the
447:collections of arms and armour.
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286:who gave the Boyds these lands;
267:. It was the stronghold for the
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721:Historic Environment Scotland.
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356:9th Lord Howard de Walden
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744:Historic Environment Scotland
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408:Historic Environment Scotland
233:Scottish Wars of Independence
184:(renovated between 2020-2023)
520:The second floor houses the
512:where a group of travelling
395:— Robert Burns (1759–1796)
245:(indirect, association only)
237:(indirect, association only)
16:14th-century Scottish castle
7:
487:
10:
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1142:Musical instrument museums
1132:Listed castles in Scotland
810:"Dean Castle Country Park"
786:Guided Tour Of Dean Castle
313:
1152:Local museums in Scotland
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854:"Pictures of Dean Castle"
470:8th Lord Howard de Walden
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1122:Castles in East Ayrshire
930:Castles in East Ayrshire
891:The death of Lord Soulis
373:The 9/11 memorial plaque
330:for his services at the
674:whatsoninkilmarnock.com
638:eastayrshireleisure.com
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1157:Parks in East Ayrshire
656:visitscotland.com/info
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241:Battle of Loudoun Hill
1091:Templehouse Fortalice
842:East Ayrshire Council
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352:East Ayrshire Council
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332:Battle of Bannockburn
296:Bonnie Prince Charlie
288:James III of Scotland
162:East Ayrshire Council
30:Kilmarnock, Scotland
838:east-ayrshire.gov.uk
816:(official website).
1016:Kingencleugh Castle
986:Craufurdland Castle
946:Auchencloigh Castle
795:8 June 2009 at the
790:Dean Castle website
565:as Beaufort Castle.
423:Spirit of Christmas
346:Dean Castle in 1790
319:Clan Boyd ownership
173:Yes, free of charge
96: /
1096:Terringzean Castle
1066:Ravenscraig Castle
848:on 22 August 2006.
771:. 29 October 2019.
554:In popular culture
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510:minstrel's gallery
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387:The plaque reads:
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348:
255:is a 14th century
100:55.6233°N 4.4839°W
1109:
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1076:Robertland Castle
966:Caprington Castle
586:. Britain Express
308:Earl of Glencairn
276:Kilmarnock Castle
263:, East Ayrshire,
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185:
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1071:Riccarton Castle
1051:Martnaham Castle
1046:Mauchline Castle
1036:Loch Doon Castle
1031:Lefnoreis Castle
981:Corsehill Castle
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844:. Archived from
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846:the original
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822:. Retrieved
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693:Daily Record
691:
690:. Ayrshire.
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304:Robert Burns
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229:Battles/wars
190:Site history
168:Open to
18:
1086:Sorn Castle
1021:Kyle Castle
991:Dean Castle
951:Barr Castle
836:. Tourism.
654:. Castles.
338:Present day
292:Covenanters
269:Boyd Family
259:located in
253:Dean Castle
213:In use
137:Tower house
103: /
79:Coordinates
67:Dean Castle
24:Dean Castle
1116:Categories
570:References
541:The palace
464:Rebuilding
444:arrowslits
419:Illumnight
360:Kilmarnock
261:Kilmarnock
181:Preserved
88:55°37′24″N
1167:Clan Boyd
562:Outlander
514:minstrels
484:in 1971.
324:Clan Boyd
300:rebellion
274:Known as
221:Materials
178:Condition
91:4°29′02″W
818:Archived
793:Archived
488:Interior
298:, whose
280:the dean
265:Scotland
126:NS437394
753:12 June
728:12 June
590:4 April
502:dungeon
314:History
198:c. 1350
824:24 May
527:chapel
451:Palace
257:castle
144:Height
522:solar
224:Stone
195:Built
157:Owner
826:2024
755:2020
730:2020
592:2022
531:mass
434:Keep
133:Type
147:3.5
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
