Mauchline Castle
Mauchline Castle, also known as Abbot Hunter's Tower,[1] is a rectangular tower house dating from the fifteenth century, in Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Scotland.[2]
History
Before 1177 the Cistercian Melrose Abbey held lands in Ayrshire, virtually represented by Mauchline parish.[3] The castle was constructed by monks from Melrose Abbey in about 1450.[4] The arms of Abbot Hunter (c1444-71) on a boss in the vaulting of the first-floor hall give the earliest dating of the Castle.[2] Huw Campbell of Loudoun was appointed Bailie of Barony in 1521, gaining the temporal lordship in 1606.[2] Gavin Hamilton, friend of Robert Burns, later lived in the tower as a tenant of Lord Loudoun[2]
The tower fell into disrepair.[2]
Structure
The tower is built of red[2] ashlar, being 5 feet thick.[3] The entrance is to the south, at ground level, with a turnpike stair to its left.[2] There are four main storeys, and a crowstep gable storey.[2] There is an unusual double garderobe chute at the north gable.[2] There are two vaults in the basement, which are lit poorly.[2] Externally it measures 10.0 metres east to west by 9.0 metres.[3] Above the entrance there is a statue niche.[3]
The hall, which is on the first floor,it ribe-vaulted in two bays.[2] There is a window with stone seats.[2] There are four non-defensive windows on the east of the building.[3]
Against the west wall there is a 17th-century house.[2]
Traditions
Robert Burns is said to have written the parody sermon The Calf, and to have married Jean Armour, in the castle.[4]
References
- ↑ "Mauchline Castle". Canmore. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Lindsay, Maurice (1986) The Castles of Scotland. Constable. ISBN 0-09-473430-5 p.39
- 1 2 3 4 5 Canmore
- 1 2 "Mauchline". Gazetteer of Scotland. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
Coordinates: 55°30′55″N 4°22′49″W / 55.5153°N 4.3803°W