Ayr Castle

Ayr Castle Details

Ayr Castle, site of C12 royal castle rebuilt C14 and destroyed C17 with construction of Citadel fort, now vanished

  • Closest To: Ayr
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NS335222

The site of Ayr Castle is believed to be within a private garden, and to consist of the motte of an earthwork castle dating back to the end of the 12th century.

However the castle was completely removed during the construction of the 17th century Citadel – the civil war-period fort erected for Cromwell during his occupation of Scotland, and the location highlighted by the first Ordnance Survey is at the location we might expect the north-east bastion of the Citadel to lie, so we cannot be certain of this, and all remains of the medieval castle are probably long lost.

A new castle at Ayr was founded in about 1197 by King William the Lion, who was extending his authority into this area which bordered the lands of the rebellious and quasi-autonomous Lords of Galloway. Galloway had been partitioned, and the northern part, known as Carrick, was the dominion of Duncan, who was struggling to assert his own authority on the area following the grant of Galloway proper to the south to his cousin. The castle remained in use as a royal centre into the early 14th century, and it was probably abandoned after extensive English occupation in the reign of Edward II, and not repaired by the Scots. The last mention of a constable is July 1314, when a reference is made to the “late constable” suggesting that it had fallen to the Scots by this time. Subsequently some French soldiers occupied Ayr in the mid 16th century – and the castle site was an obvious garrison point, but its likely the buildings used were post-medieval.

It is possible to view extensive portions of the Citadel walls, bastions and ditch as they are largely publicly accessible at all times, but the suggested castle site cannot be seen.

Become a supporter of my work to access a more detailed history