Ardmillan Castle
Castle (16th Century), House (18th Century)
Site Name Ardmillan Castle
Classification Castle (16th Century), House (18th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Ardmillan House
Canmore ID 62078
Site Number NX19SE 1
NGR NX 16951 94521
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/62078
- Council South Ayrshire
- Parish Girvan
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Kyle And Carrick
- Former County Ayrshire
NX19SE 1 1695 9451.
(NX 1695 9451) Ardmillan House and remains of (NAT) Castle (NR)
OS 6" map (1957)
Ardmillan Castle was originally a modest fortalice of the late 16th century built on a large grassy mound and consisting of an oblong block of circular towers projecting on the NE and NW the latter of which has been removed. By the end of the 17th century it had been altered and was described as being 'built round, courtways; surrounded with a deep broad ditch' (Abercrummie 1688) traces of which remain.
The aspect of the mansion was entirely altered during the 18th century by the erection of a classic pedimented front, but an idea of the aspect of the original castle may be obtained from the NE. The rough cast walls rise three storeys to a wall-head which is crowned by a parapet at the east and west gables. A garret storey rises within the parapet. It was damaged by fire at the beginning of this century.
Tranter (1965) says the castle was surrounded by a barmekin or curtain wall but MacGibbon and Ross (1892) mention only the enclosing wall of the courtyard.
The castle belonged to the Kennedys of Bargany until 1658 when it passed to the Crawfords of Baidland (Mrs Grant, Ardmillan House).
Visited by OS (JD) 19 October 1955
Ardmillan House has been gutted by fire and now lies derelict. The fabric of the castle can be seen in the W part of the ruins but there is no trace of a ditch or curtain wall.
Visited by OS (JP) 29 January 1976
Ardmillan House was gutted by fire in 1973 and is now derelict, though much of the 16th century walling, about 1.2m thick, is sound and can be seen to form the core of the W wing. The line of the original courtyard is not apparent, and no trace of a ditch or curtain wall was found in the gardens, which are entirely of 18th - 19th century landscaping.
The estate has recently been purchased with the proposed intention of creating a holiday-park, and it is the stated intention of the owners (Ardmillan Estate Office, The Lodge, Ardmillan House, Girven) to demolish the entire house in the near future.
Visited by OS (JRL) 7 April 1977
No change. The shell stands gutted and abandoned.
Visited by OS (MJF) 19 November 1980
Field Visit (April 1982)
Ardmillan Castle NX 169 945 NX19SE 1
Ardmillan Castle is a late-16th-century tower-house with additions of the late 18th and early 20th centuries, the whole now reduced by fire to a shell. The three-storeyed tower is oblong with a stair-tower at the NE angle; there was possibly another on the NW.
RCAHMS 1983, visited April 1982
(Millar 1885; MacGibbon and Ross 1887-92, iv, 253-6; Bryden 1910; NMRS, AYD/16/1).
