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DUNURE CASTLE FACTS
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Location
near Dunure, Ayrshire
Description
Dunure Castle is located about 5 miles south of Ayr in South Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. Dunure Castle today stands in ruins on a rocky promontory. Dunure castle has been in ruins since the mid 1700s, and stones were removed for local building projects. This destruction was halted in the 1800s. The castle has recently been consolidated and is now partly accessible to visitors.
History
From the 13th century, Dunure Castle was the fortress of the Kennedy family, the Earls of Cassilis. The castle dates to at least the 1200s when a stone keep was built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Firth of Clyde. The Kennedy family expanded the castle in the 15th and 16th century, and a curtain wall was built round the whole castle. New buildings included a kitchen range, chapel, great hall, prison as well as living accommodation. In 1429 a meeting took place at Dunure between James Campbell, representing King James I of Scotland and John MacDonald, representing the Lord of the Isles. MacDonald was killed, and James I had Campbell put to death in an unsuccessful effort to appease the Lord of the Isles. Gilbert Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassilis, forcefully acquired church land during the Reformation in the 1560s. In 1569 he arranged for Alan Stewart, administrator of Crossraguel Abbey to be kidnapped and taken to Dunure Castle, where he was roasted on a spit over an open fire in the castle kitchens until he agreed to sign over the abbey estates to Gilbert Kennedy.
Date
13th century
Notable Residents
Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Dunure Castle for a few days in 1563.
Other Castles in the Area
Brodick Castle
Caprington Castle
Culzean Castle
Dean Castle
Eglinton Castle
Portencross Castle
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