Auchinleck House

Last updated

Auchinleck House
Auchinleck House.jpg
Entrance front of Auchinleck House
Coordinates 55°28′41″N4°21′48″W / 55.4781°N 4.3634°W / 55.4781; -4.3634 Coordinates: 55°28′41″N4°21′48″W / 55.4781°N 4.3634°W / 55.4781; -4.3634
Listed Building – Category A
Designated14 April 1971
Reference no. LB948
Official nameAuchinleck Castle
Designated1992
Reference no. SM5269
Official nameAuchinleck Old House
Designated1992
Reference no. SM5468
East Ayrshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in East Ayrshire

Auchinleck House is an 18th-century mansion in Scotland. It is situated near the town of Auchinleck near Cumnock and Ayr in East Ayrshire. The Auchinleck Estate has been inhabited since the 13th century, and the remains of Auchinleck Castle and Auchinleck Old House stand in the estate. The house is protected as a category A listed building, [1] while the two ruined dwellings are scheduled monuments. [2] [3]

Contents

History

Auchinleck Castle Auchinleck Castle 1790 - Ayrshire.jpg
Auchinleck Castle

Auchinleck Castle was recorded as being extant in 1241. At that time, the castle was the seat of the Auchinlecks of that Ilk, who had held the barony since at least the 13th century and possibly earlier. The castle, and the barony, remained within the Auchinleck family until 1504 when due to a failing Auchinleck male line, and the marriage of a daughter of Sir John Auchinleck to a Thomas Boswell, the estate and the title were granted to Boswell by King James IV. Boswell assumed the title of laird from that date. It is not known when Auchinleck Castle ceased to be inhabited. The ruins still stand within the grounds of the Auchinleck estate, on the low sandstone cliff which overlooks the confluence of the River Lugar and the Dippol Burn.

The Boswells

In 1591 John Boswell was in trouble with the Privy Council for practising witchcraft, sorcery and enchantments, consulting with witches and taking part in other devilish activities. Richie Graham, the most notorious wizard of his day, admitted to having raised the Devil at Auchinleck. Boswell's response to these allegations was to flee the country. [4]

Auchinleck Old House was built in 1612, [5] and was the home of the Boswell family prior to the building of the current Auchinleck House. Again, the ruins are still standing within the estate. [6]

The "new" Auchinleck House was built circa 1760 by Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck, 8th Laird of Auchinleck. It later passed on to his son, James Boswell, the biographer of Samuel Johnson. Boswell and Johnson visited the house in 1773 on their way back from their journey to the Hebrides. [1] In 1782, James Boswell became the 9th Laird of Auchinleck. His wife Margaret Boswell catalogued the houses's valuable library of books in 1783. [7] The design of the house has been attributed to Robert Adam, although it may have been designed by Alexander Boswell himself. [8]

Auchinleck House in the 20th century

During the Second World War, the then Laird of Auchinleck gave permission for Officers from the armies of Poland, Canada and France to live in Auchinleck House.

In 1986 the remains of the buildings were turned over to the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust by James Boswell, a descendant of the 18th-century Boswells. [9] The Trust repaired the roof, and thus ensured the survival of the building. In 1999 Auchinleck House was bought by the Landmark Trust, a building preservation charity whose aim it is to "rescue historic and architecturally interesting buildings and their surroundings from neglect and, when restored, to give them new life by letting them for holidays." [10] Now restored, Auchinleck House is used for holiday lets, and is occasionally open to the public.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kildrummy Castle</span> Ruined castle in Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Kildrummy Castle is a ruined castle near Kildrummy, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Though ruined, it is one of the most extensive castles dating from the 13th century to survive in eastern Scotland, and was the seat of the Earls of Mar. It is owned today by Historic Environment Scotland and is open to the public as a scheduled ancient monument with gardens that are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

Auchinleck Human settlement in Scotland

Auchinleck is a village 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Mauchline, and 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maybole</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Maybole is a town and former burgh of barony and police burgh in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It had an estimated population of 4,580 in 2020. It is situated 9 miles (14 km) south of Ayr and 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Glasgow by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. The town is bypassed by the A77.

Dirleton Castle Fortress in Scotland

Dirleton Castle is a medieval fortress in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland. It lies around 2 miles (3.2 km) west of North Berwick, and around 19 miles (31 km) east of Edinburgh. The oldest parts of the castle date to the 13th century, and it was abandoned by the end of the 17th century.

Roslin Castle Castle near Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland

Roslin Castle is a partially ruined castle near the village of Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland. It is located around 9 miles south of Edinburgh, on the north bank of the North Esk, only a few hundred metres from the famous Rosslyn Chapel.

Tower of Hallbar

The Tower of Hallbar, also known as Hallbar Tower and Braidwood Castle, is a 16th-century tower house, located to the west of the River Clyde in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The tower is situated above the Braidwood Burn, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south-west of Carluke, and 1.5 km (0.93 mi) east of Crossford. It has been restored and is let out as holiday accommodation.

Lamberton is a hilly, former landed estate in Berwickshire, Scotland, its eastern boundary being the North Sea. It is 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Berwick-upon-Tweed, on the Great North Road.

Castle Leod

Castle Leod is the seat of the Clan Mackenzie. It is a category A listed building, and the grounds are listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens. It is located near Strathpeffer in the east of Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands.

Mugdock Castle

Mugdock Castle was the stronghold of the Clan Graham from the middle of the 13th century. Its ruins are located in Mugdock Country Park, just west of the village of Mugdock in the parish of Strathblane. The castle is within the registration county of Stirlingshire, although it is only 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, on the northern outskirts of Greater Glasgow.

Menstrie Castle

Menstrie Castle is a three-storey manor house in the town of Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, near Stirling, central Scotland. From the early 17th century, it was home to Sir William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling, who was instrumental in founding the colony of Nova Scotia. It was later owned by the Holburn or Holborne family, who were created Baronets of Menstrie in 1706. The castle was restored in the 20th century, won a Civic Trust award, and now incorporates holiday accommodation, private flats, and a museum and cafe run by the National Trust for Scotland.

Craigie Castle

Craigie Castle, in the old Barony of Craigie, is a ruined fortification situated about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Kilmarnock and 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of Craigie village, in the Civil Parish of Craigie, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The castle is recognised as one of the earliest buildings in the county. It lies about 1.25 miles (2 km) west-south-west of Craigie church. Craigie Castle is protected as a scheduled monument.

Dalzell House Historic site in North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Dalzell House is a historic house in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located to the south of the town, on the north bank of the River Clyde. At its core is a 15th-century tower house, with extensive additions built during the 17th and 19th centuries. In the 1980s the house was restored and divided for sale as eighteen private apartments, while the surrounding Dalzell estate is now owned by North Lanarkshire Council. The house is protected as a Category A listed building, and the grounds are listed on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

Lands of Lainshaw The Lands Of Lainshaw Have Been In Place For Many Years And Was Used In The War.

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.

Trabboch Castle is a ruined L-plan tower house in the old Barony of Trabboch, Parish of Stair, East Ayrshire, Scotland.

Polkelly Castle

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' and Polkelly. The name is given circa 1564 as Powkellie when it was held by the Cunninghams of Cunninghamhead.

Inverugie Castle

Inverugie Castle or Cheyne's Tower is the ruins of a motte-and-bailey castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is a scheduled ancient monument.

Belmont House, Shetland Historic site

Belmont House is a Georgian country house on the island of Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It was constructed in 1775 by Shetland landowner Thomas Mouat of Garth, and has been described as "possibly the most ambitious, least-altered classical mansion in the Northern Isles." The house was restored from a derelict state between 1996 and 2010 by the Belmont Trust. The house is now used as a self catering holiday house and venue for events. It is protected as a category A listed building, and the grounds are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.

Ascog House Architectural structure in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

Ascog House is a large 17th-century mansion house at Ascog on the Isle of Bute, southwest Scotland. The house is in the care of the Landmark Trust, and is protected as a category B listed building. Balmory Hall lies just to the west of the house.

Montfode Castle

The remains of the old castle of Montfode or Monfode lie to the north-west of the town of Ardrossan and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south-west of West Kilbride in North Ayrshire, Scotland, above the Montfode Braes, in the old Barony of Kilbride. The remains of the 16th century tower are protected as a scheduled monument. The castle ruins are clearly visible from the A78 Ardrossan bypass.

References

  1. 1 2 Historic Environment Scotland. "Auchinleck House (Category A Listed Building) (LB948)" . Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Auchinleck Castle (SM5269)" . Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  3. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Auchinleck Old House (SM5468)" . Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  4. ↑ Mackenzie, Agnes Mure (1948). Scottish Pageant 1513 - 1625. Edinburgh : Oliver & Boyd. pp. 126–7.
  5. ↑ "Auchinleck House". Auchinleck Web. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Place of Auchinleck: Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Boswell, Margaret Montgomerie [Peggie] (1738?–1789), wife of James Boswell". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65003 . Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "Auchinleck House". Boswell Trust. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Steele, David (2 November 1987). "Decision day on Boswell museum". The Glasgow Herald . p. 10. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  10. ↑ "About Landmark". The Landmark Trust. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.