Kerelaw Castle
Castle (Medieval)
Site Name Kerelaw Castle
Classification Castle (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Kerelaw House Policies, Folly
Canmore ID 41097
Site Number NS24SE 6
NGR NS 26896 42845
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/41097
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish Stevenston
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Ayrshire
NS24SE 6 26896 42845
(NS 2691 4285) Kerelaw Castle (NR) (Remains of)
OS 6" map (1958)
According to Pont (J Dobie 1876) Kerelaw Castle belonged to the Lockharts in 1191. It was partly destroyed in a feud prior to 1488, and rebuilt, it was disused about 1787 when Grange house was built nearby. According to Dobie, the ruins show that it was a quadrangular building about 30 yds square. The oldest part was probably the side nearest the stream, which had almost completely disappeared. Most of the NE wall remained, showing that the lower floor had been vaulted. The SE front appeared to be a more modern addition, its central doorway and window being in Gothic style. Paterson notes arrow-slits and cable mouldings of pre-14th century date.
Name Book 1856; NSA 1845 (D Landsborough); J Paterson 1852
Only the E and part of the N and S remain. The E wing has been two storeys high and a round-arched doorway remains in the E wall which is 1.2m thick. Remaining architectural features, which include fireplaces, windows, recesses, and the remains of an angle turret at the NE corner, would suggest a late 16th - 17th century date.
Visited by OS (JLD) 13 September 1956
No change. The remains are now fenced off to public access, and are bounded by modern development on the S (see also NS24SE 30).
Visited by OS (JRL) 28 September 1982.
