Thomaston Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thomaston Castle |
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Thomaston Castle
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| Official name: Thomaston Castle | |
| Designated | 7 December 1998 |
| Reference no. | SM7865 |
Thomaston Castle is an old castle in Scotland. It is located west of Maybole, a town in South Ayrshire. This medieval castle has stood for hundreds of years. It still looks much like it did long ago. While it is very old, a house has been built nearby on the same land. The castle shows its age and needs care.
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Building Thomaston Castle
Thomaston Castle was first built in the 13th century. This means it was constructed sometime between the years 1201 and 1300. It was built for a special person: a nephew of Robert The Bruce. Robert The Bruce was a famous king of Scotland. He led Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Who Was Robert The Bruce?
Robert The Bruce was born in 1274. He became King of Scots in 1306. He is known for his victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This battle was a big step towards Scotland's independence. Having a castle built for his nephew shows the importance of his family.
Early Owners of the Castle
The first owner of Thomaston Castle was Alan McIlvaine. He was born around 1500 in Ayrshire, Scotland. His family had an interesting job. They supplied wine to the Earls Kennedy. The Earls Kennedy were powerful nobles. They owned the famous Culzean Castle nearby.
How Ownership Changed
When Alan McIlvaine passed away, Thomaston Castle went to Patrick McIlvaine. Patrick became the owner when he married Isobel Kennedy. Isobel was a daughter of Gilbert Kennedy, 3rd Earl of Cassilis. This marriage connected the McIlvaine family even more closely to the powerful Kennedy family. This was a common way for land and castles to change hands in the past.
