Ardstinchar Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ardstinchar Castle |
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| United Kingdom | |
Remains of Ardstinchar Castle
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| Coordinates | 55°05′53″N 5°00′01″W / 55.098°N 5.00028°W |
| Height | 15 metres |
| Site history | |
| Built | mid-15th century |
| Built by | Hugh Kennedy of Ardstinchar |
| Materials | Stone |
| Fate | demolished |
Ardstinchar Castle is an old castle in Scotland. It is located on the west coast of Ayrshire, right where the River Stinchar meets the sea. A man named Hugh Kennedy of Ardstinchar built this castle in the middle of the 1400s.
Sadly, in the 1770s, the castle was taken apart. Its stones were used to build a bridge over the River Stinchar. Today, only small parts of the castle's main tower, called the keep, are left. The site is now a protected historical place.
History of Ardstinchar Castle
Ardstinchar Castle was built by Hugh Kennedy. He was once a Dominican friar, which is a type of monk. But he left the monastery to travel to France. There, he became a mercenary, a soldier who fights for money.
Hugh Kennedy even led troops for Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War. He helped her at the Siege of Orléans in 1428–1429. Hugh probably got the land for the castle from his brother, Alexander. Alexander had no children, so Hugh inherited it by 1429.
Hugh and another brother, Thomas, combined their lands. This created a larger area known as the Barony of Ardstinchar. Hugh lived in Ardstinchar Castle until he passed away in 1454. His family lived in the castle for over 100 years.
A famous visitor, Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed at the castle on August 8, 1563. She likely enjoyed the views from the castle's half-turret walkway, which can still be seen today.
A long-standing disagreement between the Kennedy family groups, the Cassillis and the Bargany, caused problems for many years. This feud ended in 1601. The last leader of Bargany and Ardstinchar was killed.
Jean Stewart, Lady Bargany, his wife, stayed at Ardstinchar. She had been a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Denmark, the queen. She resisted attempts to make her leave in 1603. Jean Stewart died in 1605.
After this, the family lost their wealth. The estate was bought by Sir John Hamilton. By 1770, the castle was in very poor condition. Its stones were used to build a three-arch bridge over the River Stinchar. They also helped build several houses and an inn in Ballantrae. That inn is now called the King's Arms Hotel.
Castle Design
Today, not much of the castle is left. You can mostly see the ruins of the main tower, or keep, on a rocky hill. The original castle was shaped like a wedge. It had three square towers. These towers were connected by strong walls with battlements.
The main entrance, called the gatehouse, was on the north side. The keep was in the southeast part of the castle's courtyard. A long hall house was built next to it.
The castle ruins sit on a rocky area near the river. The main tower measures about 8.7 meters by 6 meters. Its walls are thick, about 1.1 meters wide. From the ground, the tower still stands about 15 meters high. The remains of the other towers are too small to measure easily.
The wall around the courtyard varies in width. It is between 1 meter and 1.6 meters wide. Outside the north-east courtyard wall, there is a trench cut into the rock. It is 8 meters wide and 1.5 meters deep. There is also a shallower trench on the west side.
