Hunterston Castle

Hunterston Castle
West Kilbride, North Ayrshire, Scotland
UK grid reference
The keep to the right with the later house to the left
Hunterston Castle
Coordinates 55°43′22″N 4°52′44″W / 55.7229°N 4.8789°W / 55.7229; -4.8789
Grid reference grid reference NS192514
Type Tower house
Site information
Controlled by Clan Hunter
Open to
the public

Yes

Listed Building – Category A
Designated 14 April 1971
Reference no. LB14313
Condition Preserved
Site history
Built c. late 15th/early 16th centuries onwards
Built by Clan Hunter

Hunterston Castle, West Kilbride, North Ayrshire, Scotland is the historic home of the lairds of Clan Hunter. The keep dates from the late 15th, or early 16th centuries, while the attached manor house is of the 17th century. The estate was granted to the Hunters by David I of Scotland in the 12th century, and the heads of the clan have lived on the estate for the following 900 years. The castle is a Category A listed building.

History

The original Hunters were Norman French in origin, who were granted the lands around Hunterston by King David I in the 12th century.[1] In the Middle Ages, the chief of Clan Hunter was granted the hereditary title of Royal Huntsman.[2] The family has owned the castle ever since,[1] although much of the estate was compulsorily purchased by the government in the 20th century to enable the construction of the Hunterston A and Hunterston B nuclear power stations.[3]

Architecture and description

The tower dates from the late 15th, or early 16th, centuries, although earlier buildings existed on the site.[4] In the 17th century, a house was added to the tower to provide additional accommodation. In the 19th century, this was considered insufficient and a Neoclassical house, Hunterston House,[5] was built to the north of the castle.[4] In 1926 Robert Lorimer undertook an extensive restoration of the castle.[4] It is a Category A listed building.[6]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Clan Hunter Scotland – We've been here for 907 years!". Clanhunterscotland.com. 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
  2. ↑ "Hunterston Castle | Argyll, Clyde and Ayrshire | Castles, Forts and Battles". Castlesfortsbattles.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
  3. ↑ "Clan Hunter". Clanhunter.info. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
  4. 1 2 3 Close & Riches 2012, pp. 368-370.
  5. ↑ Stuff, Good. "Hunterston Castle, West Kilbride, North Ayrshire". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk.
  6. ↑ "Hunterston Castle". Portal.historicenvironment.scot. Retrieved 2017-11-03.

References

  • Close, Rob; Riches, Anne (2012). Ayrshire and Arran. The Buildings Of Scotland. Newhaven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-14170-2.
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