Maybole Castle

The castle is located on High Street, which links the castle to the Maybole Town Hall.

It is a 16th-century L-plan castle, spanning four floors, and harled. Two corners feature circular corbelled bartizans with conical roofs on the north-east side.{{cite book |last1=Somerset Fry |first1=Plantagenet |title=Castles : England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland : the definitive guide to the most impressive buildings and intriguing sites |date=2008 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot [England] |isbn=978-0-7153-2692-3 |page=156}}{{cite book |last1=Coventry |first1=Martin |title=The Castles of Scotland |date=1997 |publisher=Goblinshead |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-899874-10-1 |edition=2nd |page=254}} The walls are up to {{convert|7|feet}} thick, although there is a lot of decorative stonework, including faces around one the oriel window on the south-west side. A recessed area on the exterior of the tower originally displayed the coat of arms of the Cassillis family. The original entrance was located at the bottom of the stair-tower, with the main hall, maids room and pantry on the first floor and the upper levels divided into multiple chambers.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk/the-best-castles/scenic-castles/maybole-castle/ |title=Maybole Castle | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead |website=www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk}} The lower floor consists of vaulted cellars, as well as the kitchen and scullery. Early 19th century additions include the two-storey wings on the west and south sides.

Image:The Countess's Window - geograph.org.uk - 241392.jpg

The castle was originally a house of the Earls of Cassillis, sometimes known as the "Kings of Carrick".{{Cite web|url=https://www.maybole.org/places/maybolecastle/|title=Maybole Castle|website=www.maybole.org}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rampantscotland.com/castles/blcastles_maybole.htm|title=Scottish Castles Photo Library – Maybole Castle, Ayrshire|website=www.rampantscotland.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotland.org.uk/guide/castles/maybole-castle|title=Maybole Castle, Ayrshire in Scotland|website=www.scotland.org.uk}}{{cite book |last1=Gray |first1=James T. |title=Maybole, Carrick's Capital: Facts, Fiction & Folks |date=1972 |publisher=Alloway Publishing |location=Ayr|chapter=Chapter 12: Buildings Past and Present|url=https://www.maybole.org/history/books/carricks%20capital/carrickscapital.htm|chapter-url=https://www.maybole.org/history/books/carricks%20capital/buildings.htm}} It was built around 1560, and thought to have been originally for Gilbert Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassillis or John Kennedy, 5th Earl of Cassillis. Margaret Kennedy, Countess of Cassillis wrote from the castle in 1578 about wishing to order some luxury items. The items included velvet for a cloak, and a locket, along with various other items.{{cite book|author=Robert Vans-Agnew|url=https://digital.nls.uk/histories-of-scottish-families/archive/95305959?mode=fullsize|title=Correspondence of Sir Patrick Waus of Barnbarroch|volume=1|pages=192–3|date=1887|place=Edinburgh}}

Towards the end of the 16th century, a feud arose between the Earls of Cassillis and the Lairds of Bargany, following the actions of Thomas Kennedy regarding lands of an abbey in which the Earl had tortured the owner, Allan Stewart, to sign a lease. In 1601 this resulted in John Kennedy, 5th Earl of Cassillis, and 200 armed followers setting off from Maybole Castle and resulting in the death of Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany and Ardstinchar and some of his followers whilst on a ride from Ayr.{{cite book|title=Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland|year=1847|chapter=Maybole|chapter-url=https://randomscottishhistory.com/2020/09/10/maybole-pp-337-342/|pages=337–342|url=https://randomscottishhistory.com/2020/03/29/gazetteer-of-scotland-1847/|publisher=A Fullarton & Co.}}{{cite book|title=Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia|author1=George Way|author2=Romily Squire|date=1994|pages=136–137|isbn=978-0-00-470547-7|publisher=HarperCollins}} However the party were found not guilty of murder, and was instead noted as an act of service to the KingRegister of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1884), pp. 347-350.

It is one of a number of castles in and around Maybole, including Blairquhan Castle, Culzean Castle, Turnberry Castle. A 1686 census indicated Maybole included 28 lords and landowners who had estates in Carrick and the surrounding area.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/maybole-p242701|title=Maybole Visitor Guide – Accommodation, Things To Do & More|website=www.visitscotland.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/maybole/maybole/index.html|title=Maybole Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland|website=www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk}}

By the start of the 19th century, it had fallen into disrepair and in 1805 part of the original castle was demolished and the main entrance was modified. Maybole became more accessible in the 19th century thanks to the efforts of Niven of Kirkbride who opened up roads through moats and outer fortified walls. The castle was renovated and expanded with the addition of rubble-built two-storey gabled wings on the west and south sides, sometime before 1856.

Around 1837, Robert Brandard produced an engraving of the castle,{{Cite web|url=https://www.oldantiqueprints.com/product_info.php?products_id=49569|title=Antique Prints & Drawings | Maybole Castle – South Ayrshire (Scotland) | Intaglio print | 1837|website=www.oldantiqueprints.com}} based on original works by William Henry Bartlett.{{cite book|title=Scotland. Illustrated in a Series of Views Taken Expressly for This Work by Messrs., T. Allom, W.H. Bartlett and H. M'Culloch|date=1838|publisher=London: George Virtue}} Later, in the 1890s, architect and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh examined the castle as part of this own "perpetual interest in recording the decorative details of the buildings of the 'old national style'". His drawings showed the location of damage to the harling which revealed the masonry underneath. It also recorded details of the decorative stonework.{{cite book|url=https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/ws-nts/Production/assets/downloads/TheHillHouseConditionandSignificance_July2012.pdf?mtime=20191113074620|author=Andrew PK Wright|title=The Hill House, Helensburgh: Evaluation of condition and significance|date=July 2012|pages=12|publisher=National Trust for Scotland}}

The castle is featured in the legend of John Faa (sometimes referred to as "King of the Gypsies"), The Countess and the Gypsy, which is a version of the ballad The Raggle Taggle Gypsy. The legend says that Faa ran away with a Countess of Cassillis, and her husband, the Earl, hung Faa from a dule tree. He then imprisoned his wife in the castle for the rest of her life, before eventually remarrying. The Earl is also have said to have incorporated an oriel window into the castle for her to look out of, surrounded by carvings of the faces of Faa and his accomplices.{{cite book |last1=Gray |first1=James T. |title=Maybole, Carrick's Capital: Facts, Fiction & Folks |date=1972 |publisher=Alloway Publishing |location=Ayr|chapter=Chapter 26: The Countess and the Gypsy|url=https://www.maybole.org/history/books/carricks%20capital/carrickscapital.htm|chapter-url=https://www.maybole.org/history/books/carricks%20capital/countessandgypsy.htm}}{{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=William |title=Historical tales and legends of Ayrshire |date=1889 |publisher=London: Hamilton, Adams & Co; Glasgow: Thomas D. Morison |chapter=Johnny Faa and the Earl of Cassillis' Lady |page=201 |url=https://archive.org/details/historicaltalesl00robeiala/page/n3/mode/2up |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/historicaltalesl00robeiala/page/201/mode/2up}} The Earl in question is usually thought by historians to be John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassillis; however, the oriel window was already in place before this time and the story is thought to be a work of fiction. Nonetheless, the window with the oriel window is still referred to as "The Countess's Room". Some versions suggest the lady was Margaret Kennedy, setting the story at an earlier date.

In 1919, a fire broke out at the castle. Although only basic equipment was available at the time, the damage to the castle was limited to the roof and has since been repaired. Writing in 2001, local historian Davie Hunter said that charred timbers could still be seen in the roofspace.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maybole.org/news/archives/july2001.htm|title=Maybole News Archives: July 2001|website=www.maybole.org}} It become a category A listed building in April 1974, along with its rubble-built garden walls, in recognition of its national importance as the town mansion of the Earls of Cassillis.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB37709|desc=HIGH STREET, MAYBOLE CASTLE, GARDEN WALLS AND GATEPIERS|cat=A}}

Image:The Victorian extension to Maybole Castle - geograph.org.uk - 2093482.jpg

The castle is still thought to be the oldest inhabited dwelling in Maybole, and is part of the Maybole Outstanding Conservation Area, which includes a number of other listed buildings and green spaces.{{cite web|url=https://www.regeneratingmaybole.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Maintenance-Guide-Brochure.pdf|title=Maybole Town Centre Regeneration: Maintaining & Repairing Maybole's Traditional Buildings|page=4|website=www.regeneratingmaybole.scot}} It was added to the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland in 2009,{{Cite web|url=https://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/911348|title=Maybole Castle, High Street, Maybole | Buildings at Risk Register|website=www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk}} and the Maybole Castle Community Trust was registered as a charity the same year to help restore it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC040827|title=OSCR | Charity Details: Maybole Castle Community Trust, SC040827|website=www.oscr.org.uk}} At the time the first two floors were in use but the upper floors were vacant, and a number of maintenance issues were identified, especially regarding the roofs and water ingress issues.

In 2010, options were reviewed regarding the path forward for the castle, which included a presentation of present floor plans and a review of the physical condition of the building. A mix of both commercial and community usage was proposed for the castle, which is still owned by the Kennedy family. Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust was the project co-ordinator.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maybole.org/places/maybolecastle/workshop.htm|title=Maybole Castle Community Project – Options Appraisal Workshop|website=www.maybole.org}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.maybole.org/places/maybolecastle/project.htm|title=Maybole Castle Community Project|website=www.maybole.org}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/new-future-for-maybole-castle-2428193|title=New future for Maybole Castle|first=Edwin|last=Lawrence|date=8 January 2010|website=Daily Record}} Following this in 2011, a grant of £110k was announced to aid repairs of the castle through the Maybole Castle Community Trust,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/cash-keep-maybole-castle-2413779|title=Cash to keep for Maybole Castle|first=Edwin|last=Lawrence|date=13 October 2011|website=Daily Record}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishcastlesassociation.com/news/news-features/maybole-castle.htm|title=Maybole Castle | Scottish Castles Association|website=www.scottishcastlesassociation.com|date=9 February 2012}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13227097.maybole-castle-wins-repair-grant/|title=Maybole Castle wins repair grant|website=Glasgow Times|date=11 October 2011}} along with a smaller £10k grant to cover surveying and reporting fees.{{cite web | url=https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/grants/0030056145 | title=Maybole Castle Community Trust – Project |publisher=The National Lottery Community Fund}}

By 2021, Collective Architecture was contracted as a conservation accredited adviser{{cite web | url=https://museuminsider.co.uk/public-tender-awards/maybole-castle-conservation-accredited-adviser-award-2/ | title=Maybole Castle: Conservation Accredited Adviser (Award) | date=7 July 2021 }} and further £729k of funding from the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund was announced for renovations, as part of a wider Maybole regeneration scheme.{{Cite web|url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/historic-maybole-castle-set-to-thanks-to-funding-boost/|title=Historic Maybole Castle set for transformation thanks to funding boost|date=22 February 2021|website=InYourArea.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/19128538.maybole-castle-will-visitor-attraction-thanks-729k-grant/|title=Maybole castle will be a visitor attraction thanks to £729k grant|website=Ayr Advertiser|date=4 March 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.maybole.org/news/2021/Issue%2012_9x%20sm%20file.pdf|title=Exciting transformation planned for historic Maybole Castle|page=3|date=Spring 2021|publisher=North Carrick Community News}} Mark Fletcher, Chair of Maybole Community Council, was quoted as saying "This generous grant from Scottish Government secures a sustainable future for the castle. It's an iconic building in the town and we can now look forward to a fully revitalised high street that will make Maybole an even better town to live, work and visit."{{Cite web|url=https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/article/27237/Exciting-transformation-planned-for-historic-Maybole-Castle|title=Exciting transformation planned for historic Maybole Castle|website=South Ayrshire Council|date=22 February 2021}} Work is expected to start late 2022 and take up to 14 months.{{Cite web|url=https://www.regeneratingmaybole.scot/priority-projects-for-2022/|title=Priority Projects for 2022 : Maybole Towncente Regeneration|first=Angela|last=Cameron|date=8 August 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.regeneratingmaybole.scot/maybole-castle-construction-works-to-begin/|title="Maybole Castle construction works to begin!|date=21 February 2023}}

• Clan Kennedy

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |title=Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland|year=1847|chapter=Maybole|chapter-url=https://randomscottishhistory.com/2020/09/10/maybole-pp-337-342/|pages=337–342|url=https://randomscottishhistory.com/2020/03/29/gazetteer-of-scotland-1847/|publisher=A Fullarton & Co.}}
• {{cite book|title=The baronial and ecclesiastical antiquities of Scotland illustrated|author1=Robert William Billings|author2=John Hill Burton|date=1845|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xfIHAAAAQAAJ}}
• {{cite book |last1=Dennison |first1=E. Patricia |title=Historic Maybole : Archaeology and Development |date=2005 |publisher=The Council for British Archaeology for Historic Scotland |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-902771-51-9}}
• {{cite book |last1=Gray |first1=James T. |title=Maybole, Carrick's Capital: Facts, Fiction & Folks |date=1972 |publisher=Alloway Publishing |location=Ayr|url=https://www.maybole.org/history/books/carricks%20capital/carrickscapital.htm}}
• {{cite book |last1=Love |first1=Dane |title=Ayrshire: Discovering a county |chapter=Maybole and Kirkoswald |date=2003 |publisher=Fort |location=Ayr |isbn=978-0-9544461-1-6 |pages=290–312}}

{{commons category}}

• {{official|https://www.maybole.org/places/maybolecastle/}}
• {{Cite web|url=https://ayrshireandarran.com/maybole-castle/|title=Maybole Castle|website=Ayrshire and Arran}}
• [https://canmore.org.uk/site/41650/maybole-2-4-high-street-the-castle Maybole, The Castle] Canmore entry

{{Carrick|state=collapsed}}

{{Castles in South Ayrshire}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maybole Castle}}

Category:Castles in South Ayrshire

Category:Listed castles in Scotland

Category:Category A listed buildings in South Ayrshire

Category:Maybole

Category:16th-century establishments in Scotland

Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 1560s