Ardrossan Castle

Ardrossan Castle Details

Ardrossan Castle, ruins of C15 castle of the Montgomeries demolished C17 on the site of an earlier castle; considered dangerous

  • Closest To: Ardrossan,Saltcoats,Stevenston,West Kilbride,Irvine,Kilwinning
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NS232423

Ardrossan Castle was a large and impressive courtyard castle consistent with a late 14th or 15th century origin, although the remains of substantial ditches suggest an earlier, lost phase. It is built upon a prominent hill in the centre of the town of Ardrossan which also supports the site of the old church and burial ground, suggesting that the remainder of the hill may have been occupied at one point.

The ruins are those of a tower house formed by remodelling an earlier gatehouse, and courtyard ranges, together with at least two more towers on a smaller scale. However these represent at least four different construction phases, the last of which was the 16th century remodelling allowing for the insertion of gun ports. Several of the buildings are unsafe, and the whole is protected behind safety fencing as a result despite being stabilised.

Ardrossan

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