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Pinwherry Castle

Tower House (Medieval)

Site Name Pinwherry Castle

Classification Tower House (Medieval)

Canmore ID 61953

Site Number NX18NE 6

NGR NX 19770 86767

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/61953

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council South Ayrshire
  • Parish Colmonell
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Kyle And Carrick
  • Former County Ayrshire

Archaeology Notes

NX18NE 6 19774 86765

(NX 1977 8677) Castle (NR) (Remains of)

OS 6" map (1957)

Pinwherry Castle, dating from the 16th century is L-shaped, measuring 35 by 30ft. The entrance, on the ground floor was in the re-entrant angle, the first floor was a hall and there was a wing staircase. Broken bonding at the west wall's continuation suggests the existence of a walled enclosure to the north. The house belonged to the Kennedy family in 1596-7.

D MacGibbon and T Ross 1889

The remains of Pinwherry Castle (name confirmed) are situated in the grounds of a private house and consist of roughly coursed masonry walls 1.3m thick standing to 13m high. There are indications of barrel vaulting on the lower floor while a few stairs remain in the SW corner and in the wing beyond the doorway. There is no trace of a walled enclosure. The building is situated on a slight mound which appears to be natural with some modification due to landscaping.

Revised at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (JP) 22 December 1970

No change to report of OS (JP).

Visited by OS (JRL) 4 April 1977

Activities

Field Visit (July 1981)

Pinwherry Castle NX 197 867 NX18NE 6

This ruinous five-storeyed L-plan tower-house is of late 16th-century date and stands on a low natural mound, the level summit of which measures 30m by 25m.

RCAHMS 1981, visited July 1981

(Paterson 1863-6,. ii, 133; MacGibbon and Ross 1887-92, iii, 504-6)

References

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