Polkelly Castle | |
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Fenwick, East Ayrshire, Scotland UK grid reference NS45684524 | |
![]() Pokelly Hall and Balgray Mill | |
Coordinates | 55°40′34″N4°27′21″W / 55.676102°N 4.455712°W |
Site information | |
Owner | Private |
Controlled by | Mure family |
Open to the public | No |
Condition | Removed |
Site history | |
Built | 14th century |
Built by | Mures |
In use | Until 16th century |
Materials | stone |
Polkelly Castle, also Pokelly, was an ancient castle located near Fenwick, at NS 4568 4524, in the medieval free Barony of Polkelly, lying north of Kilmarnock, Parish of Fenwick, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The castle is recorded as Powkelly (c1747), Pockelly (c1775), Pow-Kaillie, Ponekell, Polnekel, Pollockelly, Pollockellie, Pokellie, Pothelly, Pathelly Ha' [1] and Polkelly. [2] The name is given circa 1564 as Powkellie when it was held by the Cunninghams of Cunninghamhead. [3]
Prior to the 1390s the evidence suggests that the lands of Polkelly were in the hands of the Comyns. [4] The estate was important to the Lairds of Rowallan as it gave uninhibited access to the large and important grazing lands of Macharnock Moor, now Glenouther Moor. [5]
In the charter of confirmation of 1512 the feudal Barony of Polkelly comprised Darclavoch, Clonherb, Clunch, with its mill, Le Gre, Drumboy, the lands of Balgray, with its tower, fortalice, manor, and mill, and the common of Mauchirnoch (Glenouther). [2] The Lainshaw Register of Sasines records that Laigh and High Clunch were part of the lands and barony of Pollockellie or Pokellie. [6]
In the early 16th century during the reign of King James V Polkelly is recorded as to have been held by the Cochranes family. [7]
Dobie records that the Mures held Pow-Kaillie which extended to 2400 acres, two-thirds of which were arable. [8]
The origins of the lands of Polkelly and Rowallan as a unit may date back to the Britonic period of the Kingdom of Strathclyde, as indicated by certain anomalies and coincidences in the boundaries of these lands. [9]
Polkelly became the secondary power centre within the feudal Barony of Rowallan. It became of minor importance when Balgray became the principal messuage of the free barony of Polkelly in 1512. [2] The castle lay close to the Balgray Mill Burn. The castle remains were removed in the 1850s and used to create a road, only leaving the motte, measuring 23m by 16m. [2] In 1590 a band of pirates harassed shipping near Ailsa Craig and as a response to this act thirty hagbutters were despatched to garrison the house and fortalice of Pokelly.' [10]
A Gulielmus (William) de Lambristoune was a witness to a charter conveying the lands of Pokellie (Pokelly) from Sir Gilchrist More to a Ronald Mure at a date around 1280. During the reign of Alexander III (1241–1286) Sir Gilchrist Mure held Pokelly and had to shelter there until the King was able to subdue Sir Walter Cuming. For the sake of peace and security Sir Gilchrist married Sir Walter's daughter, Isabella . [11]
In 1399 Sir Adam Mure held the castle and upon his death it passed to his second son, the eldest obtaining Rowallan. The lands of Limflare and Lowdoune Hill were included in the inheritance. [2] The castle and Barony of Polkelly was mainly held by the medieval Mure family, however Robert Mure of Polkelly had died by 1511, leaving his daughter Margaret, Lady Polkelly, as the sole heir. Margaret married Robert Cunningham of Cunninghamhead in March 1512. [2] The stars of the Mures were added to the armorial bearings of the Cunninghams. After 50 to 60 years the family sold Polkelly to Thomas Cochran of Kilmaronock and in 1699 it passed to his brother William. David, the first Earl of Glasgow then acquired the property and it was held by James, Earl of Glasgow in the 1870s. [12] In the 1860s the ruins are described as the strong house of Polkelly and the remnants lay on the rising ground north of Muiryet. [13]
In the late 15th century a Mure of Polkelly is recorded as being a royal administrator, collecting royal rents in east central Scotland. [2]
Helen Chalmers, sister to Margaret Chalmers of Cessnock, was tried as a Lollard supporter, pushing for religious reform in Ayrshire. Helen was the spouse of Robert Mure of Pokellie (sic). [14]
Tensions arose between the Cunninghams and Mures over their rights regarding grazing, etc on the very large and valuable area of common grazing to the north of Polkelly known as Machirnock or Maucharnock, now Glenouther. A royal letter of 1534 states that the Cunninghams had not been invested in the moor and it was decided that the souming was split between Polkelly and Rowallan. [2] The souming was the number or proportion of cattle which each tenant was entitled to keep on the common grazing. [15] In 1594 William Mure of Rowallan complained of the excess of Polkelly's grazing cattle and geese on the moor, despite having obtained a caution of lawburrows on May 20, 1593. Lawburrows was a letter in the monarch's name under the signet seal to the effect that a particular person had shown cause to dread harm from another, and that therefore this other complained of was commanded to find "sufficient caution and surety" that the complainer would be free from any violence on his part. [16]
It is suggested that tensions had not arisen earlier as previously Polkelly was passed to younger sons of the Mures upon their marriage and this came with an allocation of rights on the moor. [2]
Dobie records that the Macharnock River gave rise to the name of the Kilmarnock Water. [17] He also states that the site of a battle between the Douglas and De Mowbray families :
"Syne till a strait place gan he ga, |
Blaeu's map dating from Timothy Pont's survey of the early 17th century records a tower without any woodland policies. [18] Armstrong's map of 1775 shows two buildings recorded as Pockelly, but neither shown as a castle or mansion. [19] Pokelly Hall is shown for the first time on Thomson's Map of 1832. [20] Then 1890 OS map shows Pokelly Castle within an enclosure close to the Balgray Mill Burn and situated on a road system linked to Gardrum Mill, Gainford, Crofthead and Fenwick. The name Pathelly Hall is sometimes used for Pokelly Hall in old accounts. [21]
Cleuche lay within the Barony of Powkellie (sic) and now appears as Clunch on OS maps. [22] Dareloch, once recorded as Darclavoch, may derive from Dir-clach meaning a land of stones. [23] Drumboy was once named Drumbuy and had previously belonged to the Barony of Strathannan in Lanarkshire. [24]
An old thatched cottage at the top end of Stewarton, on the B769 to Glasgow, had the name of "King's Kitchenhead", more recently called Braehead. The story is told of a King, possibly James V, who whilst on his progress of administering justice was given hospitality at this cottage after crossing Fenwick Moor. The wife of the house, upon discovering the identity of her visitor, begged the King for the life of her husband who was one of those to be tried by the King. The others were hanged, but the King dismissed the husband with the admonition "to be a better bairn". A version of the legend adds the detail that eighteen men were in the dungeon at Polkelly Castle and that the King added that if he was ever caught doing wrong again then all the old wives in Christendom would not be able to save him from the hangman's noose. [25]
The Gallow's Hill of Polkelly was long pointed out, being marked by a lone pine dule tree [26] whilst the OS 'Name Book' records that it was a hawthorn tree as recorded in the old Statistical Account and that it stood on the lands of Damhead Farm. This tree is recorded in the 1850s as having been "cut down some 40 years ago". [7] King James is said to have found the remaining eighteen prisoners guilty and they were hanged on the castle's dule tree. [7]
One version of the story of King James V losing his horse in a bog at King's Stable near Kingswell after it had drunk from the King's Well, records that he was not on his way to Sorn Castle to attend a wedding, but instead to Polkelly castle whilst on a regal tour administering justice. [27] [28] The site of the King's Stable is now covered by a building associated with the old coaching inn. [7]
In March 1793 James Dunlop of Polkelly was the proprietor of Gardrum. [29]
Robert Craufurd of Craufurdland married Elizabeth Muir, daughter of the Laird of Pokelly in the 15th century and had three sons. [30]
Upon the death of Hugh Muir of Pokelly, Archibald Craufurd of Craufurdland married his widow, who was the eldest daughter of Archibald Boyd of Narston and Bonshaw. They had two sons and a daughter. [31]
Diana Cunninghame was an only daughter of Sir David Cunninghame of Robertland. Diana married Thomas Cochrane of Polkelly in the mid 17th century and much of the estate was sold at around this time. [32]
A David Poe is recorded as being of "Polkelly, a farm bordering Fenwick and Stewarton, seven miles from Irvine". This David Poe, an outlaw and covanteer of Ayrshire in 1666 who escaped to Ireland and had children there, is a likely ancestor of Edgar Allan Poe. [33]
Another Polkelly exists in South Lanarkshire, not far from Carstairs.
Stewarton is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In comparison to the neighbouring towns of Kilmaurs, Fenwick, Dunlop and Lugton, it is a relatively large town, with a population estimated at over 7,400. It is 300 feet above sea level. The town is served by Stewarton railway station.
Chapeltoun is an estate on the banks of the Annick Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland. This is a rural area famous for its milk and cheese production and the Ayrshire or Dunlop breed of cattle.
Cunninghamhead is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was the centre of the lands of Cunninghamhead, Perceton and Annick Lodge in Cunninghame. This mainly rural area is noted for its milk and cheese production and the Ayrshire, Cunninghame or Dunlop breed of cattle.
Clan Muir is a Scottish clan that is armigerous. Historically, holders of the surname Muir can be considered septs of Clan Campbell and septs of Clan Gordon in the highlands. The spelling variation More/Moore is a sept of Clan Leslie in Aberdeenshire. Some members of Clan Muir who trace their ancestry to Ayrshire are septs of Clan Boyd. A single family, the Mores/Moores of Drumcork, are septs of Clan Grant.
Glengarnock Castle is one of the ancient ruined fortifications of Ayrshire. Its keep is located on a remote rocky promontory overlooking the River Garnock about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the town of Kilbirnie in North Ayrshire, Scotland. There is no clear account of when this was erected or by whom, but it may have been built by the Cunningham family or by the Riddels who preceded them. The Barony of Glengarnock is one of three feudal baronies which together form the parish of Kilbirnie in the district of Cunningham which lies in north Ayrshire. The River Garnock flows through the village of the same name 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the south, but the name Glen Garnock applies more specifically to the ravine at Glengarnock Castle.
Kilmaurs Castle was located on the lands of Jocksthorn Farm, near Kilmaurs in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is described by Timothy Pont in the early 17th century as "Ye castell is ane ancient ftronge building belonging to ye Earls of Glencairne environed with a fair park called Carmell wod from ye vatter of Carmell yat runs by it." Dobie goes on to state that "The old baronial manor place is supposed to have been situated about a mile south-east of Kilmaurs, where some ruins can still be pointed out on the farm of Jakisthorn or Jock's-thorn, probably the original Villam de Cuninghame - the first possession of the family." The castle is not to be confused with the later Cunninghame family possession known as Kilmaurs Place which Dobie calls "..comparatively modern" in 1876.
The Barony of Peacockbank was in the old feudal Baillerie of Cunninghame, near Stewarton in what is now East Ayrshire, Scotland.
The Barony of Aiket with its castle, lay within the old feudal bailiary of Cunninghame. The barony lands equate to the extant Parish of Dunlop, East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Caldwell is a mansion and old estate with the remains of a castle nearby. These lands lie close to the Lugton Water and the villages of Uplawmoor in East Renfrewshire and Lugton in East Ayrshire.
Busbie Castle was situated in what is now known as Knockentiber, a village in East Ayrshire, Parish of Kilmaurs, Scotland. Knockentiber is 2 miles (3.2 km) WNW of Kilmarnock and 1/2 mile NE of Crosshouse. The castle overlooked the Carmel Glen and its Burn, which runs into the River Irvine, a mile or so to the south, after passing through the old Busbie Mill.
Giffordland is in North Ayrshire, Parish of Dalry (Cunninghame) in the former Region of Strathclyde, Scotland.
The Castle and Barony of Robertland is located near Stewarton, off the B769 road, in the old district of Cunninghame, Parish of Stewarton, and now part of East Ayrshire, Scotland.
The Lands of Lainshaw lie in Strathannick and were part of the Lordship of Stewarton, in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Lainshaw House is a category B listed mansion, lying in a prominent position above the Annick Water and its holm in the Parish of Stewarton, Scotland. Part of the much older Lainshaw Castle is contained within the several later building phases of the present day Lainshaw House. The names 'Langshaw' or 'Langschaw' were used in historic times. Law Mount near the High and Laigh Castleton farms has been suggested as the site of the original castle, granted in the 12th century to Godfrey de Ross by Hugo de Morville.
The Lands of Cocklebie or Cocklebee formed an estate possessing a common border with the estates of Lainshaw, the Corsehill, and the town of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Parish of Stewarton, Scotland.
Kingsford is a hamlet or clachan in Strathannick, East Ayrshire, parish of Stewarton, Scotland. The habitation is situated on the B769, two miles north of Stewarton and fourteen miles from Glasgow.
The Lands of Doura, Dawra, Dawray, DowreyDowray, Dourey or Douray formed a small estate, at one time part of the Barony of Corsehill and Doura, situated near the Eglinton Estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
The Murder of Hugh Montgomerie, 4th Earl of Eglinton at the Annick Ford in Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland, took place in 1586 as a consequence of a long running feud between the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton and the Cunninghames, Earls of Glencairn, families who were competing for power and influence locally and nationally. The significant repercussions of this act were felt throughout the county of Ayrshire and beyond. The spelling 'Montgomerie' is used throughout for both the family and Montgomery for the clan and clan and district names 'Cunninghame' in the same fashion.
The Lands of Tour and Kirkland (NS416406) formed a small estate close to the old Kirktoun and St Maurs-Glencairn collegiate church about 1 km south-east of Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, Parish of Kilmaurs, Scotland. The word 'Tour' in Scots refers to a 'tower' and 'kirk' to a parish church.
Dalmusternock (NS455417) was a dower house built and occupied by William Mure after his marriage and prior to inheriting the family seat of Rowallan Castle. The property is located near Fenwick, in the Barony of Rowallan, lying 3 miles north of Kilmarnock and 18 miles south of Glasgow, Parish of Fenwick, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The estate is recorded as Dalmunsternoch circa 1654; Dalmasternock circa 1747; Dalmusterknok 1775
The Lands of Blacklaw formed a small property of five merks worth, in the Lordship of Stewarton at the eastern extremity of Strathannick, between the hamlet of Kingsford in East Ayrshire and the East Renfrewshire boundary, Scotland. It was first recorded in 1484 in the Acta Auditorum. Black Law is a prominent whinstone crag lying above Blacklaw Hill Farm.
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