Auchinleck House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Auchinleck House |
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Entrance front of Auchinleck House
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Designated | 14 April 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB948 |
| Official name: Auchinleck Castle | |
| Designated | 1992 |
| Reference no. | SM5269 |
| Official name: Auchinleck Old House | |
| Designated | 1992 |
| Reference no. | SM5468 |
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Auchinleck House is a beautiful old mansion in Scotland. It was built in the 1700s. You can find it near the town of Auchinleck in East Ayrshire. The land around Auchinleck has been lived on for a very long time, since the 1200s! You can still see the old ruins of Auchinleck Castle and Auchinleck Old House on the estate. Today, Auchinleck House is a special protected building. The old ruins are also protected historical sites.
A Journey Through Auchinleck's Past
Auchinleck Castle was first mentioned in records in 1241. It was the home of the Auchinleck family. They had owned this land since at least the 1200s. The castle stayed with the Auchinleck family until 1504. Then, because there were no more male heirs, the estate went to Thomas Boswell. This happened when he married a daughter of Sir John Auchinleck. King James IV officially gave the land to Boswell. From that day, Boswell became the new laird (owner) of Auchinleck. We don't know exactly when Auchinleck Castle stopped being lived in. Its ruins still stand on the estate. They are on a low cliff overlooking where the River Lugar and Dippol Burn meet.
The Boswell Family's Story
In 1612, Auchinleck Old House was built. This was the home of the Boswell family before the current Auchinleck House was built. Its ruins can still be seen on the estate today.
The "new" Auchinleck House was built around 1760. It was built by Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck. He was the 8th Laird of Auchinleck. Later, his son, James Boswell, inherited the house. James Boswell was famous for writing about his friend, Samuel Johnson. In 1773, Boswell and Johnson visited the house. They were on their way back from a trip to the Hebrides islands. In 1782, James Boswell became the 9th Laird of Auchinleck. His wife, Margaret Boswell, made a list of all the valuable books in the house's library in 1783. People think the famous architect Robert Adam might have designed the house. However, Alexander Boswell himself might have designed it.
Auchinleck House in Modern Times
During the Second World War, the Laird of Auchinleck allowed officers from other countries to live in Auchinleck House. These officers were from Poland, Canada, and France.
In 1986, a descendant of the Boswell family, James Boswell, gave the buildings to the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust. This Trust fixed the roof, which helped save the building from falling apart. In 1999, Auchinleck House was bought by the Landmark Trust. This is a charity that saves old and interesting buildings. They fix them up and then rent them out for holidays. This helps give the buildings a new life. Now, Auchinleck House is fully restored. It is used for holiday rentals, and sometimes it is open for the public to visit.
