Eglinton Castle was a large Gothic castellated mansion in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
History
The castle
The ancient seat of the Earls of Eglinton, it is located just south of the town of Kilwinning. The original Eglinton Castle was burnt by the Earl of Glencairn in 1528.Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, pp. 278 - 279. The current castle was built between 1797 and 1802 in Gothic castellated style dominated by a central large round keep and four outer towers. The foundation stone of the new Eglinton Castle in Kilwinning was laid in 1797, the 12th Earl of Eglinton, was proud to have the ceremony performed by Alexander Hamilton of Grange, grandfather of the American Hero Alexander Hamilton.Kilwinning Heritage
Eglinton was the most notable post-Adam Georgian castle in Ayrshire.Sanderson, Margaret H. B. (1993), Robert Adam in Ayrshire. Ayr Arch Nat Hist Soc. Monograph No. 11. p. 18. Among many items of interest, the castle contained a chair built from the oak timbers of Alloway kirk and the back of the chair was inlaid with a brass plaque which bore the whole of Burns' poem Tam o' Shanter.Aikman, J. & Gordon, W. (1839) An Account of the Tournament at Eglinton. Pub. Hugh Paton, Carver & Gilder. Edinburgh. M.DCCC.XXXIX. This was sold at an auction in 1925.Dowells Ltd. Catalogue of the Superior Furnishings, French Furniture, etc. Tuesday, 1 December 1925, and four following days. The previous Eglington castle (sic) was described circa 1563–1566 as a fare castell, but noo strength againsts any power.Military Report on the Districts of Carrick, Kyle & Cunningham. Archaeological & Historical Collections relating to Ayr & Wigton. 1884. Vol. IV. Pub. Ayr & Wigton Arch Assoc. p. 23. An escape tunnel is said to run from the old castle to the area of the rockery on the castle lawns. The appearance of the old waterfall may have inspired this story as it looks like a sealed doorway.Barr, Allison (2008), Five Roads / Corsehillhead resident. The total acreage of the Earl of Eglinton's holdings was 34,716 Scots Acres (1 Scots acre = 1.5 English Acres) in 1788.National Archives of Scotland. RHP35796/1-5. This included Little Cumbrae, and lands at Southannan and Eaglesham (Polnoon).
The original castle of Eglinton may have been near Kidsneuk, Bogside (NS 309 409) where a substantial earth mound or motte stands and excavated pottery was found tentatively dating the site to the thirteenth century.Simpson, Anne Turner and Stevenson, Sylvia (1980), Historic Irvine the archaeological implications of development. Scottish Burgh Survey. Dept. Archaeology, Univ Glasgow. p. 23.
The Montgomerie's' first holdings were the Barony of Eaglesham and its Castle of Polnoon.
In 1691 the 'Hearth Tax for Ayrshire' records show 25 hearths in use, the highest number for a single dwelling in Ayrshire. It is noted that the earl had not paid the tax. The earl's house in Kilwinning, Easter Chambers or the old abbot's dwelling, had 15 hearths. Thirty-seven other dwellings were listed within the barony of Eglinton.Urquhart, Page 92
The stables were built from stones taken from the Easter Chambers of Kilwinning Abbey; being the Abbots lodgings and later that of the Earls of Eglinton. In 1784, over a period of four months, the building was demolished and the stones were taken to Eglinton.Service, Page 140
The construction of the new castle was not universally accepted as beneficial; Fullarton records that "The hoary grandeur of the old fortalice lay deeply buried amid the dense groves of immemorial growth which closely invested and obscured it; no innovating projects of improvement, nor change of any kind, had ever been permitted to disturb the sanctity of its seclusion, or to ruffle the feelings even of the most fastiduous worshipper of things as they are, or, more properly perhaps, chance to be".Fullarton, Page 85 The castle is said to have had a moat.Anstruther, Page 27
Covenating times In the 1640s Alasdair Mac Colla had been sent by Montrose to suppress support for the Covenanting cause. He plundered the Ayrshire countryside for some days and then demanded financial penalties. Neil Montgomery of Lainshaw negotiated a 4,000 merks penalty for the Eglinton Estates; three tenants having already been killed, with some deer and sheep also taken from the park.Stevenson, David (1994). Highland Warrior. Alasdair MacColla and the Civil Wars. Edinburgh: The Saltire Society. . p. 205.
Ley tunnels Persistent rumours exist of a Ley tunnel which is said to run from Kilwinning Abbey, under the 'Bean Yaird', below the 'Easter Chaumers' and the 'Leddy firs', and then underneath the Garnock and on to Eglinton Castle. No evidence exists for it, although it may be related to the underground burial vault of the Montgomeries which does exist under the old abbey.Service, page 48. A ley or an escape tunnel is also said to run from the castle to exit at the old waterfall near the rockery. It is reported that a tunnel ran from the castle to near the existing Castle Bridge. This tunnel was stone lined and tall enough for a man to walk through. This is likely to have been the main drain from the castle.
The Pleasure gardens
Sir William Brereton in 1636 describes the landscape on his journey south from Glasgow as "a barren and poor country", but the earls had clearly enhanced Eglinton for he comments that the land at Irvine was "dainty, pleasant, level, champaign country."Brereton
The grounds of the castle were described in one record of the 1840s as being extensive, with greenhouses, a river with bridges across it, a sundial, and many acres of woods. Phipps, pages 61–63.
A mention in Badderley's 'Through Guide' circa 1890 indicates that the Eglinton Castle grounds were open to the public on Saturdays.Newsletter (1989), Page 8
Notable trees The 'Fauna, Flora and Geology of the Clyde Area'Scott Elliot, G. F., Laurie, M. and Murdoch, J. B. (1901). Glasgow: British Association. pages 131–147. lists the notable Clyde Area trees at Eglinton in 1901, showing that the estate at the time had one of the foremost collection of significant trees in southern Scotland. Tree removal for sale as timber was one of the first acts of the new owners of the estate when it was sold in the late 1940s; however, many had already been removed in 1925 by Neill of Prestwick and Howie of Dunlop, both being timber merchants.Eglinton Archives, Eglinton Country Park.
The significant trees were:- Holly (6' 10" girth); Sycamore (13' 2" girth – Deer Park); Field Maple (6' 5" girth); Horse Chestnut (11' 4" girth); Gean (girth 11' girth – Bullock Park); Hawthorn (8' 3" girth); Fraxinus heterophylla (4' 6" girth – Lady Jane's Cottage); Elm (12' 7" girth – castle); Hornbeam (14' girth – between Castle & Mains); Holly Oak (5' 2" girth – gardens); Sweet Chestnut (16' girth – Bullock Park); Beech (18' 3" girth – Old Wood); Cut-leaved Beech (8' 11" girth); Larch (8' 9" girth); Cedar of Lebanon (9' 11" girth – Bullock Park); Scots Pine (11' girth – between Castle and Mains).
The Eglinton Tournament
Eglinton is best remembered for the lavish, if ill-fated, Eglinton Tournament, a medieval-style tournament organised in 1839 by the 13th Earl. The expense and extent of the preparations became news across Scotland, and the railway line was even opened in advance of its official opening to ferry guests to Eglinton. Although high summer, in typical Scottish style torrential rain washed the proceedings out, despite the participants, in full period dress, gamely attempting to participate in events such as jousting. Among the participants was Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (the future Emperor Napoléon III of the French).Ker, Page 318
The demise of the castle
The immense cost of upkeep, the poor condition of the castle and death duties took their toll on the family finances; the castle was abandoned in 1925. De-roofed in 1926, the lead being removed and sold,Eglinton Archive, Eglinton Country Park after a house contents sale in December 1925, and progressively ruinous, the building finally came to an undignified end during the Second World War when it was seriously damaged during army training held there. The army also partly destroyed the iron bridge running to the old walled gardens.
The 1925 house sale by Dowell's Limited, included 1,960 items auctioned, raising £7,004 19s 6d. The auction catalogue provides an interesting insight into the feelings of the family at this sad time, with much of the Montgomerie history sold off, such as the 13th Earl's suit of armour from the tournament, the panel from the door of the murdered 10th Earl's coach and many paintings of the family and the castle, including a portrait of that great beauty, Susanna Kennedy, Countess of Eglinton. The family moved to Skelmorlie Castle near Largs in 1925.
Architects' drawings from March 1930 survive for plans to adapt the stable buildings as a residence for the Earl of Eglinton and Winton.Eglinton Archive
Substantial remains of the castle survived WW2, however the buildings were rationalised in 1973 and only one main tower was kept, together with some outer wall, foundations and parts of the castle wings.Campbell, Page 177
Eglinton Castle is said by one of the gardeners to have had a room which was never opened. In about 1925 a young man from Kilwinning decided to take some of the panelling from a room in the castle as it was all being allowed to rot in the rain anyway, since the roof had been removed. He went to the castle to take away as much as he could carry, however one of the last pieces he selected left exposed the skeletal hand of a woman. The whole skeleton was later removed by a student doctor, but for fear of prosecution the matter was never reported to the police.Montgomeries of Eglinton, page 98.
Eglinton family micro-history
In 1583 Lady Anne Montgomerie brought her husband, Lord Semple, a dowry of 6000 merks, a considerable sum.Chambers, Robert (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh: W & R Chambers. p. 236.
Lady Frances Montgomerie was buried at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh on 11 May 1797. She was the daughter of Archibald, 12th Earl of Eglinton.Daniel, page 199.
At the coronation of Charles I at Holyrood, the Earl of Eglinton had the honour of bearing the king's spurs.Daniel, page 111.
Glasgow University's Eglinton Arts Fellowship was established in 1862 by subscription to commemorate the public services of Archibald William, 13th Earl of Eglinton, Rector of the University 1852–54.Glasgow University Art's Fellowship.
At the christening of King James IV the Earl of Eglinton had the honour of carrying the salt.Chambers, Robert (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh: W & R Chambers.
The potato was first heard of in Scotland in 1701; it was not popular at first. In 1733 it is, however, recorded as being eaten at supper by the Earl of Eglinton.Chambers, Robert (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh: W & R Chambers. p. 404.
Huchoun ("little Hugh") or Huchown is a poet conjectured to have been writing sometime in the 14th century. Some academics, following the Scottish antiquarian George Neilson (1858–1923), have identified him with Hugh of Eglington, and advanced his authorship of several other significant pieces of verse.
Viva Seton Montgomerie records that a gipsy put a curse on the Montgomerie family that for three generations the property would not go from father to son.Montgomerie, Page 2