Stanecastle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stanecastle |
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Stanecastle in 2007
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| General information | |
| Type | Tower |
| Location | Stanecastle, Irvine |
| Construction started | ca.1363 |
| Renovated | ca.1750 |
| Owner | North Ayrshire Council |
Stanecastle was a medieval estate and barony, which is like a large area of land owned by a lord. It is located in North Ayrshire, Scotland. People first wrote about it in 1363. Today, it is part of the Irvine New Town area. Its closest neighbors are Bourtreehill and Girdle Toll.
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Uncovering Stanecastle's Early History
The very early history of Stanecastle is a bit of a mystery. Some people once thought that the word 'stane' (which means stone) in its name meant there were old Roman buildings there. However, we now know that people in Scotland built with stone long before and after the Roman times. So, the name doesn't necessarily mean it has Roman beginnings.
Medieval Life and Legends
The old name for this area was the 'Barony of Stane'. There's a cool legend that a secret underground tunnel runs from Seagate Castle in Irvine all the way to Stane Castle!
Saint Bridget's Chapel
A man named William Fraunces de le Stane owned land that included a small chapel. This chapel was special because it was dedicated to Saint Bridget. It was located on the open land, or 'muir', near Stane, close to the Annick Water river.
It's thought that a very old nunnery or convent might have been at the heart of the medieval estate. Evidence of a small medieval chapel was found, which likely belonged to St. Bridget. This chapel probably had its own graveyard, as was common back then. Sadly, both the chapel and graveyard are now buried under a modern road.
The Story of Stane Castle
The first castle was built around 1417 by the Francis family. They also owned land in another area called Sprouston. Later, the ownership of the barony passed to the Montgomery family of Greenfield through marriage.
Over time, Stanecastle became part of the growing lands of the Earls of Eglinton. William Francis of Stane gave his estate to the Earls of Eglinton in the 1400s. Some records say that the current castle was built in 1520 by a branch of the Montgomerie family.
In 1750, Alexander, the 10th Earl of Eglinton, fixed up the castle. He changed it into what's called a 'folly'. This means it was made to look old and interesting, rather than for living in. He added four open and four closed pointed windows just for looks. On the west side, a stone panel with the Earl of Eglinton's family crest (called an armorial panel) was put up. People sometimes say it was placed upside down, but the shield itself is actually the right way up. It's just that some of the symbols inside it are upside down! There's also a spiral staircase inside, which is an original part of the castle.
Secret Tunnels and Land Changes
People say that a secret tunnel runs from Stanecastle to Eglinton Castle and also to Seagate in Irvine. Another legend mentions a tunnel from Stanecastle to Dundonald. In the 1800s, workers actually found an underground passage at Stanecastle!
The Earls of Eglinton gained more land in 1851. They traded some land called Bogside Flats for an area called Knadgerhill. This allowed them to build a new main entrance to their estate at Stanecastle, which was called Long Drive.
Robert Burns' Visits to Stanecastle
Robert Burns, a famous Scottish poet, lived in Irvine from 1781 to 1782. It's known that he loved walking through the Eglinton Woods. Since he mentioned passing Saint Bride's Well, it suggests he might have walked through Stanecastle on his way back to Irvine. He would have walked along the old Toll Road, crossed the Drukken Steps, and returned via other local areas.
Stanecastle in the 19th Century
John Galt, a writer born in Irvine in 1779, mentioned Stanecastle in his 1823 novel, Ringan Gilhaize.
Stanecastle Today
Today, you can still see the impressive main tower, or 'keep', of the original estate. There's an inscribed stone set into its wall. In the 1700s, this keep was changed with the addition of eight mock-Gothic arched windows, which made it look like an old Gothic building. It now has a modern roof with a chimney and windows.
The Irvine Development Corporation worked to make the structure stable and repaired it. The Montgomery Society of Scotland once tried to buy the castle to use as a clan headquarters and museum, but their plans didn't work out.
Across from the keep is the Stanecastle gate. This gate is much newer than the castle but fits well with the style of the area. In the 1900s, the gate's direction was changed. It used to be the southern entrance to the huge Eglinton Castle estate, which is now the Eglinton Country Park.
The remaining part of the estate has been fenced off to protect it. For many years, the modern gate was locked, but now it's more open for people to see.
Gallery
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Stanecastle in 1866
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Stanecastle
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Stanecastle castle in summer
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Stanecastle from the old Stanecastle Lodges
