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Rowallan Castle in 1876.
Rowallan Castle in 1876. [1]

Rowallan Castle is an ancient castle located near Kilmaurs, at NS 4347 4242, about 5 kilometres (3. Kilmaurs ( Scottish Gaelic: Cille Mhàra) is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. 1 mi) north of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. Kilmarnock (Cill Meàrnaig locally known as Killie) is a large Burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44170 East Ayrshire ( Siorrachd Inbhir Àir an Ear in Gaelic) is one of 32 Council areas of Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. [2] The castle stands on the banks of the Carmel Water, which may at one time have run much closer to the low eminence upon which the original castle stood. [3]

Contents

The history of Rowallan castle

Owners

Rowallan (old) Castle (Scotland)
Rowallan (old) Castle
Rowallan (old) Castle
Location of Old Rowallan Castle, Kilmaurs, Ayrshire. Kilmaurs ( Scottish Gaelic: Cille Mhàra) is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland.

The castle and barony has been owned or held by the medieval Mure family, the (Boyle) Earls of Glasgow, the (Campbell) Earls of Loudoun, the (Corbett) Barons Rowallan, and by Historic Scotland. Clan Muir is an Armigerous Scottish clan, meaning that the clan doesn't have a chief recognized by the Court of the Lord Lyon. The title Earl of Glasgow was bestowed on David Boyle Lord Boyle one of the commissioners who negotiated the Treaty of Union The title Earl of Loudoun (pronounced " Lood en" was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1633 for the 2nd Lord Campbell of Loudoun, along with Baron Rowallan, of Rowallan in the County of Ayr is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Historic Scotland is an Executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland. [2] It is said that the earliest piece of Lute music was written at Rowallan. Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck (either Fretted or unfretted and a deep round back or more specifically to an instrument from [4] It is said to have been visited by the unfortunate King James I of Scotland when on his way from Edinburgh to England. James I may refer to James I Count of La Marche (1319-1362 Count of Ponthieu James I of Aragon (1208–1276 Count of Barcelona The first Mure holder, Sir J. Gilchrist Mure was buried in the Mure Aisle at Kilmarnock. [5]

Origins

The original castle is thought to date back into the 13th century. Rowallan was said to be the birth place of Elizabeth Mure (Muir), first wife of Robert, the High Steward, later Robert II of Scotland. Elizabeth Mure (d before May 1355 was mistress and then wife of Robert High Steward of Scotland, and Guardian of Scotland (1338 - 1341 and from October 1346 who Marriages and issue His first wife was Elizabeth Mure, by her he had at least ten children King Robert III of Scotland [6] She was mother to the Duke of Albany, and the Earls of Carrick, Fife and Buchanan. Duke of Albany is a Peerage title that has occasionally been bestowed on the younger sons in the Scottish, and later the British Royal family, particularly [3] In 1513 the Rowallan Estate took its present day form. [6] In about 1690 the estate was home to the Campbells of Loudoun, who held it into the 19th century. The title Earl of Loudoun (pronounced " Lood en" was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1633 for the 2nd Lord Campbell of Loudoun, along with [6]

Construction and other details

Rowallan castle in 1866.
Rowallan castle in 1866.

The southern front of the castle was erected about the year 1562 by John Mure of Rowallan and his Lady, Marion Cuninghame, of the family of Cuninghamhead. The Cunninghamhead Estate is mainly a Residential Caravan park with two private residences near Kilmarnock, Scotland. This information appears as an inscription on a marriage stone or tablet at the top of the wall: - Jon. A marriage stone is usually a stone lintel carved with the initials Coat of arms, etc Mvr. M. Cvgm. Spvsis 1562. The family coat of arms lies to the right. The crest of the Mure's was a Moore's head, which is sculptured near the coat of arms. This is no doubt a rebus or jeu-de-mot on the Mure name, however it is suggested that it is a reference to some feat performed in the crusades against the Saracens. A rebus ( Latin: "by things" is a kind of word puzzle which uses pictures to represent words or parts of words for example H + = Saracen was a term used by Europeans in the Middle Ages for Fatimids at first then later for all who professed the religion of Islam. [7] The Royal Arms of Scotland, fully blazoned, are carved over the main entrance, together with the shields of the Cumin family, from whom the Mures claim descent. In Heraldry and heraldic Vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of most often a Coat of arms or Flag, which enables a person to [3] Over the ornamented gateway is a stone with the date 1616 inscribe dupon it. [8]

Over the doorway of the porch is an inscription in Hebrew using hebrew characters which read The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and and of my cup, Psalms. XVI, Verse 5. Such an inscription is so rare as to be unique. Doctor Bonar, moderator of the Free church of Scotland, put much effort into deciphering and translating it. [9] At the front of the castle stood a perfect example of an old loupin-on-stane. A mounting block, horse block, or in Scots a loupin'-on-stane is an assistance for mounting and dismounting a horse or cart especially for the young elderly [10] A fine well with abundant pure water was present at Rowallan. [11]

One of the rooms was called Lord Loudoun's sleeping apartment and Adamson records that almost every room throughout the house has its walls covered with the names and addresses of visitors. Some have also left poems or have recorded the details of their visit in verse. [12]

Part of the castle was known as the 'Womans House' indicating the age when gender separation was the norm for the privileged classes, reflected in the decoration of these apartments and the sewing and other work undertaken by the ladies of the house. [13]

Edith Rawdon-Hastings, 10th Countess of Loudoun was especially fond of Rowallan and spent considerable sums repairing the castle in the 19th-century. Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings Countess of Loudoun ( December 10 1833 &ndash January 23 1874) was a British peeress, the daughter of Without her efforts the building would not have survived down to the present day.

Row Allan, row!

In connection with the rebus mentioned, a tale is told of one Allan of Stewarton who was rowing a Scottish chief off the Ayrshire coast. The weather made a turn for the worse and the chief became anxious. The chief in his fear of the ocean said to Allan, Row, Allan row! Bear me to safety and you will have the rich lands of Carmelside, wuth silver to build yourself a castle. Hill and valley and rivers of fish will be yours . . . . but just row, Allan, row! Allan won his prize and named the estate 'Rowallan' after his adventure. The same story is told in the form of a poem written by the Rev. George Paxton from Kilmaurs, pastor of a Secession Church from 1789 - 1807. [14][15]

Covenanting times

Sir William Mure wrote a history of his family and though an ardent covenanter, opposed the execution of Charles I, writing an elegy upon his death. The name Charles I may refer to Kings Charlemagne, Charles I Holy Roman Emperor (742-814 Charles I of England, [3] Conventicles were not infrequently held within the mansion, which from its position was anciently called the Craig of Rowallan. The Conventicle Act of 1664 was an Act of the Parliament of England (16 Charles II c [16]For this, he fell under the suspicion of the Government, and on several occasions suffered imprisonment. Part of the old castle is called the 'Auld Kirk' in memory of covenanting days. [17]As stated, Sir William befriended the Covenanters, and as much as possible protected his tenantry from the tyranny of the troopers who scoured the countryside at the period. He was intimate with the Rev. William Guthrie of Fenwick, who preached upon several occasions in the "auld kirk" of the castle. [18]

Rowallan

The tree fox of Rowallan

Adamson records that a fox lived in a tree in the old garden at Rowallan. This fox would watch then world go by from its perch and was sufficiently savvy to leave the house keepers chickens alone. One day this fox encountered the local hunt and ran to cover in the tree, to the mazement and consternation of the hunters and hounds. The housekeeper dislodged the poor animal, however it escaped the hunt and was back in its tree the following day as if nothing untoward had happened. [20]

The Marriage tree

Near to the castle, overlooking a chasm through which the Carmel runs, stood a stately 'marriage tree' on the bank known as 'Janet's Kirn', Scots for a 'churn. ' Under this tree Dame Jean Mure of Rowallan was married to William Fairlie of Bruntsfield, an estate near Edinburgh. This wedding was part of a well planned elopement, the suitor having brought a minister with him. [20]

Rowallan and a visit from Auld Nick

The stair leading up to the principal door of the castle has a crack that is best seen in wet weather, and tradition has it that this was the rent caused by the Devil himself.

The Box hedge

A great Box hedge was planted at Rowallan castle garden, possibly around 1687, and it was still a magnificent sight circa 1817; by 1847 however it was much decayed. Buxus is a Genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box (majority of English-speaking countries or boxwood [21]

The Edwardian castle

The present or 'modern' castle dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, though the estate does contain ruins from the 16th century castle. [22] In around 1906 the well known architect Sir Robert Lorimer worked upon the estate. Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer (1864–1929 was a prolific Scottish Architect noted for his restoration work on Historic houses and Castles, [2]

References

  1. ^ Dobie, James. (1876) Cuninghame Topographized by Timothy Pont. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow. Facing P. 364.
  2. ^ a b c http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst9678.html Retrieved on June 11, 2007
  3. ^ a b c d Miller, A. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. H. (1885). The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire. Reprinted by The Grimsay Press, 2004. ISBN 1-84530-019x P. 128.
  4. ^ Retrieved on June 11, 2007
  5. ^ McIntosh, John (1894) Ayrshire Nights' Entertainments. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Pub. Dunlop & Drennan, Kilmarnock. P. 344.
  6. ^ a b c http://www.rowallancastle.com/ Retrieved on June 10, 2007
  7. ^ Dobie, James. Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. (1876) Cuninghame Topographized by Timothy Pont. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow. Facing P. 366.
  8. ^ a b Adamson, Archibald R. (1875), Rambles Round Kilmarnock. Pub. T. Stevenson, Kilmarnock. P. 138.
  9. ^ Landsborough, David Rev. (1879), Contributions to Local History. Pub. Dunlop & Drennan, Kilmarnock. P. 148.
  10. ^ Chalmers, Francis Edit. (1903), Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland. Pub. The Caxton Pub. Co. , London. Vol. 2. P. 931.
  11. ^ Landsborough, David Rev. (1879), Contributions to Local History. Pub. Dunlop & Drennan, Kilmarnock. P. 138 - 140.
  12. ^ Adamson, Archibald R. (1875), Rambles Round Kilmarnock. Pub. T. Stevenson, Kilmarnock. P. 139.
  13. ^ The Womans House
  14. ^ Blair, Anna (1983) Tales of Ayrshire. Pub. Shepheard-Walwyn, London. ISBN 0-85683-068-2. P. 127 -128.
  15. ^ Adamson, Archibald R. (1875), Rambles Round Kilmarnock. Pub. T. Stevenson, Kilmarnock. P. 141.
  16. ^ Paterson, James (1866), History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. Pub. James Stillie, Edinburgh. Vol. III. P. 413.
  17. ^ Chalmers, Francis Edit. (1903), Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland. Pub. The Caxton Pub. Co. , London. Vol. 2. P. 931.
  18. ^ Adamson, Archibald R. (1875), Rambles Round Kilmarnock. Pub. T. Stevenson, Kilmarnock. P. 150.
  19. ^ Adamson, Archibald R. (1875), Rambles Round Kilmarnock. Pub. T. Stevenson, Kilmarnock. P. 151.
  20. ^ a b Adamson, Archibald R. (1875), Rambles Round Kilmarnock. Pub. T. Stevenson, Kilmarnock. P. 140.
  21. ^ Landsborough, David Rev. (1879), Contributions to Local History. Pub. Dunlop & Drennan, Kilmarnock. P. 176.
  22. ^ http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/comser/tourism/castles.asp Retrieved on June 11, 2007

External links

Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
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