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Field Visit
Date June 1988
Event ID 1082642
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1082642
Ardkinglas was the seat of an important branch of the Campbell family, descended from Colin, son of Colin Campbell of Lochawe, who probably received the extensive estate, lying between Loch Fyne and Loch Long, at about thetime of his marriage in 1396 (en.1*). The old castle [NN11SE 2] is indicated on an estate-plan of 1790 showing James Playfair's proposed house and offices (see No.l49), and it was also described in the Statistical Account published two years later (en.2). Playfair's caption indicated 'the Castle to be left in part as a ruin, and will be Gardener's house and hovell for Cattle', but it had been demolished before Garnett's visit in 1798 (en.3).
As shown on Playfair's plan, the castle appears to have been situated about 150m S of the present Ardkinglas House, on a level triangular area at the junction of three estate-roads or in the field immediately to the NE. In 1790 it lay between two small streams, which converged l00m to the WNW, but that to the N is no longer visible. The building is shown as an enclosure, about 30m square, with circular towers at all but the Wangle, and a gatehouse of considerable projection at the centre of the SW wall. This corresponds well with the contemporary description of the castle as being 'composed of three separate towers, each of them fronting an area within. The space, between the towers, is defended by a strong wall, about 15 feet (4.6m) high. In the course of this wall is the great gate, which is defended by small round turrets in flank, with apertures, through which those who assailed the gate might be annoyed with arrows, or with small fire-arms. The gate is also defended by a small tower, immediately above it, called the gate tower. Around the area, and within the walls, are smaller buildings, for lodging servants, for holding arms, and for storehouses and cellars'. The writer adds, presumably on the basis of a datestone, that 'there is certain evidence of its having been repaired in the year 1586' but no carved fragments from the building are known to survive.
The same account states that 'the old residence of the family of Ardkinglass, of which the ruins can now scarcely be traced, was at a small distance from the present castle, but in a more commanding situation' [NN11SE 8]. It is possible that this is to be associated with a massive stone-lined well about 4msquare and 4m deep, on the summit of a glacial ridge 400mto the NNE (NN 177105) (en.4*), but no remains of a defensive character are now identifiable.
RCAHMS 1992, visited June 1988
