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Kerelaw Castle

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496: 400: 64: 451: 1428: 575: 343: 563: 611: 766: 551: 587: 1138: 599: 438: 387: 508: 48: 71: 423:. Clements, Graham and McLatchie give the date of 1685 for the sale of Kerila (Kerelaw) to John Hamilton by Robert Reid Cunninghame of Seabank House (Auchenharvie) whose mining activities were causing him financial difficulties. The castle became the residence of the Hamilton family until 1787 when another Alexander Hamilton (second cousin of the American politician), built 470:
or doocot dated 1775 existed here (see illustration) until the 1960s when it was demolished together with other outbuildings. Cottages for the workpeople had been built in the court of the castle, and their high corbie-stepped gable-ends added to the picturesque effect of the castle ruins. The gothic
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were granted leases in 1545 in return for carrying the Earl's furniture to Finlayston on the Clyde every spring from the Creek of Saltcoats and bringing it back again in the autumn when the family returned to Kerelaw for the winter months. A half barrel of herrings was also to be furnished yearly to
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A cobbled ford once crossed the Stevenston Burn in the Kerelaw Glen beneath the castle and ran up the bank passed the Kerelaw Mains home farm. The later limestone quarry workings destroyed the lane leading up from the ford. Two footbridges crossed the burn, one at the surviving weir and the other
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In 1852 Paterson noted arrow-slits and cable mouldings of pre-14th century date. An old bridge, now used for pedestrians only, is situated next to the ruin (NS 2688 4288), but the castle itself is fenced off to protect both the public from falling stone and the castle from unwanted attention. The
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The bridge has a large cavity or 'cave' within it and this once gave access to pedestrians using the path that ran parallel to the Stevenston Burn. The arch of the bridge and the 'cave' show that the bridge was built in two stages and was widened with the upstream side being more recent. A large
527:. In 2014 some repairs were carried out on the building and the immediate surroundings were cleared of excess trees and shrubs that were harming and hiding the structure. A QR Code and heritage trail plaque are attached to the fence and an interpretation board is present. 534:
The castle's former walled garden with its sundials and complex flowerbed layout is now occupied by a housing estate built in the late 1960s, but a single wall of the structure still remains. In the 1850s an orchard is shown on OS maps, located next to the walled garden.
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Roy's Survey map of 1747 records the name as Kerry-law, and Smith refers to it as Kerila Castle; as does Paterson. Kyryaw castle, mains and mill are marked on Ponts map of 1604–1608. A lodge house, situated to the east of the castle is marked on the older
419:, a founding father of the United States of America), formerly of Cambuskeith (now known as 'The Mount'), and afterwards of Grange, who changed the name of the castle and its grounds to Grange, after the family home in 208: 201: 471:
windows may be one of the 19th century additions to the buildings. A limekiln was also situated nearby at NS 2706 4309. Dudups (Diddup) nearby was part of the Kerelaw/Grange Estate.
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Kerelaw Castle is now a ruin, with three walls surviving in various states of decay. Gothic windows still adorn the southern wall, believed to have been inspired by those at
315:, Constable of Scotland, as far back as 1191, after Stephen Lockhart or Loccard obtained a grant of land in Ayrshire. This land would be named Stevenstoune (later 1462: 1452: 487:
The house, the castle and the grounds were all sold in 1838 to Gavin Fullerton after Alexander's death. Fullerton soon restored the original name of Kerelaw.
1171: 1118: 319:) after himself, and their manor-place of the barony of Stevenston, named Kerelaw. The castle and barony were eventually passed on to the Campbells of 335:, during the well documented and long-term feud between these two prominent Ayrshire families. The Cunninghames, led by the Earl of Glencairn burned 1467: 350:
Kerelaw was rebuilt sometime after 1488 and is reported to have contained a number of carved coats of arms of the Scottish nobility, taken from
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ornately carved cruciform embellishment has fallen from the bridge arch and lies downstream from the bridge.
1103: 916:, A M, 1604–1608: with continuations and illustrative notices by the late James Dobie of Crummock, FSA Scot 942:
The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, Vol. 5
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in Kilwinning was laid in 1797 by Alexander Hamilton of Grange on behalf of the 12th Earl of Eglinton.
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In 1609 it was bought by Sir Thomas Boyd and soon after sold again to Sir William Cunninghame of
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beyond the quarry house where mortared ashlar dressed stone walls still survive.
476: 431: 415:. In 1655 Kerelaw Castle was purchased by Alexander Hamilton (the grandfather of 336: 256: 246: 519:(and are proof that much of the castle was built at various points in history). 1395: 1304: 1269: 1220: 408: 284: 34: 1123: 1441: 1038: 424: 109: 96: 1149: 966: 923: 1089: 1072: 1021: 1001: 949: 913: 884: 412: 304: 1055: 1416: 1192: 380: 303:
This castle, variously named Kerelaw, Kerila or even Turnlaw, is said by
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The Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland, Volume III
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of the abbey after the reformation and may have lived at Kerelaw.
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Local tradition is that the castle had been the residence of the
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A genealogical account of the principal families in Ayrshire ..
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Stevenston (Stivenstoune Stinstin). The Kernel of Cunninghame
368: 375:, which may have arisen from the fact that the third son of 978:. Ayr: Ayrshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. 280: 1033:. Irvine: Cunninghame P. sold by A. Constable, Edinburgh. 479:
and is still in existence today (2008) as a private home.
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A bricked up entrance to the former walled garden in 2008
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The last remnants of the castle's walled garden in 2008
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Ayrshire: Its History and Historic Families, Vol. I
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The weir on the Stevenston Burn in the Kerelaw Glen
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The old Kerelaw doocot of which nothing now remains
427:nearby, with the castle quickly becoming disused. 1014:History of the counties of Ayr and Wigton, Vol. 5 994:History of the counties of Ayr and Wigton, Vol. 2 556:One of the surviving gothic-style windows in 2008 1439: 1129:Kerelaw Glen Dam, lade and Stevenston Corn Mill 1065:Historical Tales and Legends of Ayrshire Vol.II 592:The remains of the eastern castle wall in 2006 1463:Scheduled Ancient Monuments in North Ayrshire 1453:Category B listed buildings in North Ayrshire 1179: 1165: 905:. Ardrishaig, Argyll : M.C. Davis, 1991. 202: 1028: 776: 774: 708: 706: 1008: 991: 687: 685: 377:Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn 1172: 1158: 940:MacGibbon, David; Ross, Thomas (1887–92). 751: 648: 646: 644: 523:castle and surrounding ground is owned by 209: 195: 1062: 1045: 982: 973: 956: 771: 703: 694: 632: 441:An OS map of the Kerelaw Estate from 1910 933:Robert Reid Cunninghame of Seabank House 891: 874: 832: 682: 664: 506: 494: 449: 436: 398: 385: 341: 1104:RCAHMS Canmore Database: Kerelaw Castle 715: 641: 403:Coat of Arms of the Hamiltons of Grange 1440: 930: 803: 724: 454:Kerelaw castle ruins in 1890 with the 445: 362: 218:Clan Cunningham – Clan Montgomery feud 70: 1153: 1079: 909: 900: 823: 794: 783: 673: 346:Kerila or Kerelaw Castle in the 1860s 190: 1067:. London: Hamilton, Adams & Co. 1050:. Kilmarnock: Dunlop & Drennan. 961:. Kilmarnock: Dunlop & Drennan. 903:The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire 780:MacGibbon & Ross, Vol. 5, p. 569 655: 543:Views of the castle and surroundings 1114:The Clan Cunningham Society website 935:. Ayr: Ayr Arch & Nat Hist Soc. 812: 490: 13: 1119:The Montgomerie – Cunningham feud. 987:. Stevenston: Alexander McLatchie. 976:Mining and Quarrying in Stevenston 482: 458:tree reputed to have been sent by 339:to the ground in revenge in 1528. 14: 1479: 1097: 283:. It is situated on the coast of 252:Murder of Hugh Montgomerie (1586) 1426: 1136: 896:. Glasgow: Gilmour and Lawrence. 879:. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. 609: 597: 585: 573: 561: 549: 430:The foundation stone of the new 394: 390:The southern castle wall in 2006 327:(or Cunninghams/Cuninghames) of 69: 62: 46: 853: 841: 760: 742: 733: 1468:Ardrossan−Saltcoats−Stevenston 959:Ayrshire Nights Entertainments 1: 1029:Robertson, George (1823–25). 983:McLatchie, Alexander (2017). 974:McLatchie, Alexander (2016). 912:Cuninghame, topographized by 621: 503:from above the bridge's arch. 1016:. Edinburgh: James Stillie. 996:. Edinburgh: James Stillie. 875:Billings, Robert W. (1901). 7: 1082:Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire 1063:Robertson, William (1889). 1046:Robertson, William (1908). 862:Retrieved : 2013-05-10 850:Retrieved : 2014-04-24 165:c. 1191, rebuilt after 1488 10: 1484: 1458:Ruined castles in Scotland 1124:Kerelaw Glen YouTube Video 910:Dobie, J. S., ed. (1876). 868: 700:Robertson (1889), p. 13-29 298: 1448:Castles in North Ayrshire 1424: 1187: 1181:Castles in North Ayrshire 944:. Edinburgh: D. Douglas. 425:Kerelaw (or Grange) House 307:to have been held by the 224: 177: 169: 161: 156: 148: 138: 133: 125: 88: 57: 45: 28: 23: 992:Paterson, J. (1863–66). 957:MacIntosh, John (1894). 931:Graham, Eric J. (1997). 892:Clements, James (1974). 838:Paterson, Vol. 2, p. 445 730:Paterson, Vol. 5, p. 558 712:Paterson, Vol. 5, p. 561 638:Robertson (1908), p. 133 626: 604:Remains of the old ford. 144:Yes, with limited access 918:. Glasgow: John Tweed. 901:Davis, Michael (1991). 499:Ornate carved keystone 16:Ruin castle in Scotland 790:Ayrshire Roots article 739:Graham, Eric J, p. 44. 525:North Ayrshire Council 512: 504: 463: 442: 404: 391: 354:, Nine fishermen from 347: 52:Kerelaw Castle in 2006 1256:Cunninghamhead Castle 1249:Little Cumbrae Castle 510: 498: 453: 440: 402: 389: 345: 1298:Hill of Beith Castle 1084:. London: E. Stock. 1080:Smith, John (1895). 819:Roy's Survey of 1747 333:2nd Lord Montgomerie 1207:Auchenharvie Castle 1109:Old Maps of Kerelaw 767:Kilwinning Heritage 446:Ancillary buildings 363:Abode of the Abbots 313:Richard de Morville 239:Auchenharvie (1526) 106: /  1382:Portencross Castle 1368:Montgreenan Castle 1284:Glengarnock Castle 1193:Ailsa Craig Castle 652:Clements, James. A 513: 505: 464: 443: 417:Alexander Hamilton 405: 392: 348: 262:Montgreenan (1586) 229:Sauchieburn (1488) 110:55.6484°N 4.7523°W 1435: 1434: 1410:Skelmorlie Castle 1291:Hessilhead Castle 1214:Broadstone Castle 757:Macintosh, p. 330 748:McLatchie, p. 13. 670:Macintosh, p. 329 460:David Livingstone 323:and later to the 270: 269: 243:Waterstoun (1528) 185: 184: 1475: 1430: 1419: 1412: 1405: 1403:Shewalton Castle 1398: 1391: 1384: 1377: 1370: 1363: 1356: 1349: 1347:Lochranza Castle 1342: 1335: 1328: 1321: 1314: 1307: 1300: 1293: 1286: 1279: 1272: 1265: 1258: 1251: 1244: 1242:Corsehill Castle 1237: 1235:Cloncaird Castle 1230: 1228:Clonbeith Castle 1223: 1216: 1209: 1202: 1200:Ardrossan Castle 1195: 1174: 1167: 1160: 1151: 1150: 1146: 1141: 1140: 1139: 1093: 1076: 1059: 1042: 1025: 1005: 988: 979: 970: 953: 936: 927: 906: 897: 888: 863: 857: 851: 845: 839: 836: 830: 827: 821: 816: 810: 807: 801: 798: 792: 787: 781: 778: 769: 764: 758: 755: 749: 746: 740: 737: 731: 728: 722: 719: 713: 710: 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305:Timothy Pont 302: 273: 272: 257:Aiket (1586) 233: 157:Site history 139:Open to 18: 1417:Stanecastle 1012:(1863–66). 462:from Africa 381:Commendator 178:In use 113: / 89:Coordinates 1442:Categories 1354:Monkcastle 1340:Law Castle 622:References 501:quatrefoil 421:Kilmarnock 373:Kilwinning 359:the Earl. 317:Stevenston 293:Stevenston 98:55°38′54″N 31:Stevenston 1039:181661431 356:Saltcoats 309:Lockharts 149:Condition 101:4°45′08″W 967:17243312 924:57035353 468:dovecote 456:Laburnum 329:Kilmaurs 289:Scotland 39:Scotland 1090:1509406 1073:1741572 1022:4352073 1002:4352073 950:6800546 885:3506212 869:Sources 477:OS maps 321:Loudoun 299:History 1375:Pitcon 1088:  1071:  1056:604043 1054:  1037:  1020:  1000:  965:  948:  922:  883:  278:castle 152:Ruined 627:Notes 369:Abbot 311:from 276:is a 162:Built 129:Stone 1086:OCLC 1069:OCLC 1052:OCLC 1035:OCLC 1018:OCLC 998:OCLC 963:OCLC 946:OCLC 920:OCLC 881:OCLC 281:ruin 126:Type 371:of 1444:: 773:^ 705:^ 684:^ 643:^ 466:A 295:. 287:, 37:, 33:, 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Index

Stevenston
North Ayrshire
Scotland

Kerelaw Castle is located in North Ayrshire
55°38′54″N 4°45′08″W / 55.6484°N 4.7523°W / 55.6484; -4.7523
v
t
e
Sauchieburn (1488)
Kerelaw (1488)
Auchenharvie (1526)
Eglinton (1528)
Murder of Hugh Montgomerie (1586)
Aiket (1586)
Montgreenan (1586)
castle
ruin
North Ayrshire
Scotland
Stevenston
Timothy Pont
Lockharts
Richard de Morville
Stevenston
Loudoun
Cunninghames
Kilmaurs
2nd Lord Montgomerie
Eglinton Castle

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