Fairlie Castle facts for kids
Fairlie Castle tower from the South-West
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 Location in Scotland
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| Alternative name | Fairly |
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| Location | Fairlie, Scotland |
| Region | North Ayrshire |
| Coordinates | 55°45′16″N 4°50′57″W / 55.75432°N 4.84930°W |
| Type | Tower castle |
| Length | 13.8m (45ft) |
| Width | 8.7m (29ft) |
| Height | 12.5m (41ft) |
| History | |
| Builder | Sir Robert Fairlie of that Ilk |
| Material | Stone |
| Founded | 15th century or 1521. |
| Abandoned | 1650s |
| Periods | Medieval |
| Associated with | The Fairlies of that Ilk |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Restored |
| Ownership | Private |
| Public access | Private |
| Website | Historic Environment Scotland |
| The castle and its immediate surroundings were a building site in 2016, restoration is now complete. | |
Fairlie Castle is an old stone tower castle in Fairlie, Scotland. It sits on a natural hill above a steep part of the Fairlie Glen. The castle was built by the Fairlie family, who lived there for many years. Today, it is well-preserved and is a protected historic site.
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History of Fairlie Castle
Fairlie Castle is a strong tower that once had orchards and gardens around it. Some records say that Sir Robert Fairlie built the castle in 1521. His family had owned the land since the 1300s. Around 1656-1660, the last of the Fairlie family sold the castle to the Boyle family.
Fairlie Castle is similar to other nearby castles like Little Cumbrae Castle and Law Castle at West Kilbride. All these castles are close to the Firth of Clyde.
Who Lived at Fairlie Castle?
The Fairlie family is believed to have come from the Ross family of Tarbert. When they were given the lands, they took the name Fairlie. Their family crest had three water budgets (leather bags for carrying water) and a chevron.
In 1335, William de Fairlie received a pardon from King Edward III. Later, in 1526, Catherine Crawford married David Fairlie. They had a son named Robert.
Records from 1601 show what life was like at Fairlie Castle. A list of Lady Fairlie's belongings included lots of household linen, clothes, cooking tools, wine, and barrelled meat. They also had cattle, sheep, corn, and barley. This shows they lived a comfortable life at the castle.
The last member of the Fairlie family sold the castle and its lands to David, the first Earl of Glasgow, around 1650. Today, the castle is owned by a private individual.
What Does Fairlie Castle Look Like?
Fairlie Castle is about 12.5 meters (41 feet) tall. It is a typical tower castle, meaning it's a tall, strong building without a large outer wall or courtyard. The castle once had four floors and two vaulted cellars.
The castle has round towers called bartizans at each of its four corners. These towers helped support the walkway at the top. Inside, the private rooms had window seats, toilets, and fireplaces. The main hall and kitchen were on the first floor. The main entrance is on the ground floor and faces south. The walls of the castle are very thick, about 1.6 meters (5 feet). There are also gun ports, which were small openings for defending the castle during attacks.
The castle is in a good defensive spot, overlooking the steep and wooded Fairlie Glen. This glen forms the border between the parishes of West Kilbride and Largs.
Old Pathway Near the Castle
There's an old paved path that runs past the castle today. This path shows signs of being very old and suggests it was once an important route. It might have even gone across Fairlie Moor all the way to Dalry.
The Ballad of Hardyknute
Some people believe that Elizabeth, Lady Wardlaw wrote a famous story called The Ballad of Hardyknute, which was published in 1719. This story is thought to be set at Fairlie Castle. Lady Wardlaw claimed she found the poem in an old vault, but no original copy was ever found.
The story is about an old warrior named Hardyknute. He is called to help the Scottish King during a battle, possibly the Battle of Largs. Even though he is old, he gathers his sons and men and sets off. On their way, they meet a wounded knight. When Hardyknute and his men return victorious, they find their castle silent and empty. The story suggests that the youngest son, daughter, and others might have been harmed by the wounded knight, who was actually a traitor.
Interesting Facts About Fairlie Castle
- The name 'Fairlie' might come from an old English word meaning a meadow or uncultivated land where sheep grazed.
- In 1841, a visitor named Elvira Anna Phipps drew a picture of the castle. It showed the castle without a roof and with damaged walls, much like it is today. She was told that the castle was of Danish origin, meaning it might have been built by Vikings or people from Denmark.
