Kilkerran House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kilkerran House |
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Looking towards Kilkerran House
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| General information | |
| Type | House |
| Location | near Maybole |
| Town or city | Ayrshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°17′32″N 4°40′18″W / 55.29222°N 4.67167°W |
| Completed | c. 1700 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Brick, stone |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Reference no. | LB1114 |
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Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
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| Reference no. | GDL00238 |
Kilkerran House is a beautiful old house in Scotland. It's located near a town called Maybole in Ayrshire. This private home was built around the 1700s. It's so special that it's protected as a "Category A listed building." This means it's a very important historical site. The large gardens around the house are also recognized for their beauty and history. The name Kilkerran comes from an old Gaelic phrase. It means "head of the loch by the church of Ciarán."
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Where is Kilkerran House?
Kilkerran House is in a lovely valley. This valley is home to the Water of Girvan river. The house is about 4.5 miles (7 km) south of Maybole. It's also about 2 miles (3 km) northeast of a village called Dailly.
The Story of Kilkerran House
Kilkerran House has a long and interesting history. It has been the home of the Fergusson family for hundreds of years.
Early History of the Land
The Fergusson family has owned the land at Kilkerran since the early 1300s. A man named Fergus Fergusson received an official document, called a charter, from Robert the Bruce. Robert the Bruce was a famous King of Scots. This charter confirmed that the Kilkerran lands belonged to Fergus.
By the 1300s, a strong tower house already stood where the current house is now. Tower houses were common defensive homes in Scotland.
How the House Grew Over Time
The main part of Kilkerran House was built around the year 1700. But the house didn't stay the same. It was made bigger and changed several times over the years.
- In 1818, an architect named James Gillespie Graham added more parts to the house. He even included fireplaces designed by another famous architect, William Adam.
- Later, in 1855, David Bryce designed a billiards room. This was a special room for playing pool.
- In 1873, the stable offices were built by architects Brown and Wardrop.
- The house was updated again in 1956. An architect named Schomberg Scott helped with the redecoration.
Notable Residents and Visitors
Many interesting people have lived in or visited Kilkerran House.
- Blanche Dugdale was a well-known writer and biographer. She was also the mother-in-law of Sir James Fergusson, 8th Baronet, who owned the house. Blanche Dugdale passed away at Kilkerran House in 1948.
- Today, the house is still lived in by the Fergusson family. Sir Charles Fergusson, 9th Baronet, who is Sir James's son, lives there now.
