Greenan Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greenan Castle |
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| Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland | |
Greenan Castle from the east
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 Greenan Castle
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| Coordinates | 55°26′19″N 4°40′12″W / 55.4386°N 4.6700°W |
| Type | Tower house |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Private |
| Condition | Ruin |
| Site history | |
| Built | 16th century |
Greenan Castle is an old castle ruin from the 1500s. It is located about 2.5 miles (4 km) southwest of Ayr in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The castle sits on top of a sea cliff. It started as an ancient fort on a headland. Later, in the 1100s, it became a motte-and-bailey castle. This is a type of castle with a raised earth mound and a courtyard. In the 1400s, a tower house was built here by the Lords of the Isles. The castle later became owned by the Kennedy family.
History of Greenan Castle
The land where Greenan Castle stands used to belong to John, Lord of the Isles. However, in 1476, King James III took the land from him. This happened because of disloyalty to the king. In 1493, King James IV then gave the Greenan lands to William Douglas. William was the son of Archibald, Earl of Angus.
Early Fortifications
The first known defensive building on this spot was a promontory fort. This was likely a fortified farm. It covered about one acre of land. Four curved ditches, each about 3 meters wide, cut off the headland. There was only one path to get in. We do not know how long this early settlement was used. But the site was used again in the 1100s.
Life at the Castle
Next to the tower, you can still see parts of a walled courtyard. There were also other buildings, like stables and a kitchen. The tower itself was small and did not have a kitchen inside.
On May 12, 1602, something important happened in this courtyard. Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean and his servant, Lancelot Kennedy, rode off to Edinburgh. They had stayed the night with Thomas's half-brother, John Kennedy. Just a few miles away, near Ayr, they were attacked. Sir Thomas was killed. This event was linked to an earlier conflict. Later, some people involved were punished for their part in the event. This sad story even inspired a play by Sir Walter Scott called "An Ayrshire Tragedy."
The castle was owned by different members of the Kennedy family over time. In 1766, it came into the hands of Thomas Kennedy, Earl of Cassillis. Around this time, people stopped living in the castle. Today, Greenan Castle is a ruin.
Interesting Features
Above the entrance, there is a special stone with letters carved into it. It says JK 1603 FMD. This stands for John Kennedy of Baltersan and his third wife, Florence MacDowell. They owned the castle, a nearby mill, and fishing rights on the River Doon in 1603.
