Ardrossan Castle

Ardrossan Castle is a ruined castle in the town of Ardrossan in the Scottish county of Ayrshire on the west coast (now North Ayrshire County ). The ruin with a moat stands on a range of hills above the city. A keep from the 15th century and a vault with kitchen and cellar have been preserved to this day . There is a well in a deep passage. Parts of the donjon are preserved up to the level of the consoles of the parapet , but it is in ruins. The original castle, owned by the Barclay clan , was partially destroyed during the Scottish Wars of Independence . This event, during which the English garrison was slaughtered, is called Wallace's Larder , a name that is still used on the remaining vaults. The castle was rebuilt by the Montgomery clan in the 15th century , but was no longer used and partially destroyed by the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century . Cromwell's people used stones from the ruins to build the Citadel of Ayr.

history

Ardrossan Castle is located on a rocky hill that gives it its name (The Scottish Gaelic “Ard” means “height” in German and “Rossan” means “ledge”.) Today's ruins are at a point where one is already An earlier castle from the 1140s that belonged to the Barclay clan. In the 13th century it fell to the Ardrossan family .

The castle ruins have long been a special attraction of the city of Ardrossan. It is already described in a tour book from 1847 entitled Sylvan's Pictoral Handbook to the Clyde and its Watering-Places by Thomas and Edward Gilks . There, the castle ruins are referred to as a sign of regional identity and a subject of antiquarian interest, from which one has a wonderful view of the sea. The Gilks' note that Adrossan Castle was originally called Castle Crags , but got its current name after it came into the possession of the Ardrossan family. At the time the tourist guide was written, the castle ruins belonged to the Eglintoun family and adjoined an old churchyard.

Later story

The castle survived until 1648 when Oliver Cromwell's forces destroyed it and transported many building blocks to Ayr to build a fort, the Citadel of Ayr. The ruins of the castle are still visible but are in a dangerous condition.

Legends

The castle ruins are said to be haunted by the spirit of William Wallace . He is said to wander through the ruins on stormy nights.

The castle is also associated with the devil . Sir Fergus Barclay , also known as "the De'il of Ardrossan", was a rider known throughout the country for his incredible ability. The secret of his skills is said to have been a magical bridle that the devil is said to have given him in exchange for his soul. But the devil is said to have been tricked by Barclay so that he had to give him his soul back. Beside himself with anger about the trickery, the devil is said to have attacked the castle and left a hoofprint on the rock. Sir Fergus Barclay is located in the chapel buried the castle from the ruins of a few hundred meters inland, farther down the hill, is located.