Hunterston Castle

Hunterston Castle, West Kilbride, North Ayrshire, Scotland is the historic home of the lairds of Clan Hunter. The keep dates from the late 15th, or early 16th centuries, while the attached manor house is of the 17th century. The estate was granted to the Hunters by David I of Scotland in the 12th century, and the heads of the clan have lived on the estate for the following 900 years. The castle is a Category A listed building.

Hunterston Castle
West Kilbride, North Ayrshire, Scotland
UK
The keep to the right with the later house to the left
Hunterston Castle
Coordinates55.7229°N 4.8789°W / 55.7229; -4.8789
Grid referencegrid reference NS192514
TypeTower house
Site information
Controlled byClan Hunter
Open to
the public		Yes
Listed Building – Category A
Designated14 April 1971
Reference no.LB14313
ConditionPreserved
Site history
Builtc. late 15th/early 16th centuries onwards
Built byClan Hunter

History

The original Hunters were Norman French in origin, who were granted the lands around Hunterston by King David I in the 12th century.[1] In the Middle Ages, the chief of Clan Hunter was granted the hereditary title of Royal Huntsman.[2] The family has owned the castle ever since,[1] although much of the estate was compulsorily purchased by the government in the 20th century to enable the construction of the Hunterston A and Hunterston B nuclear power stations.[3]

Architecture and description

The tower dates from the late 15th, or early 16th, centuries, although earlier buildings existed on the site.[4] In the 17th century, a house was added to the tower to provide additional accommodation. In the 19th century, this was considered insufficient and a Neoclassical house, Hunterston House,[5] was built to the north of the castle.[4] In 1926 Robert Lorimer undertook an extensive restoration of the castle.[4] It is a Category A listed building.[6]

Notes
  1. "Clan Hunter Scotland – We've been here for 907 years!". Clanhunterscotland.com. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  2. "Hunterston Castle | Argyll, Clyde and Ayrshire | Castles, Forts and Battles". Castlesfortsbattles.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  3. "Clan Hunter". Clanhunter.info. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  4. Close & Riches 2012, pp. 368-370.
  5. Stuff, Good. "Hunterston Castle, West Kilbride, North Ayrshire". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk.
  6. Historic Environment Scotland. "Hunterston Castle (LB14313)". Retrieved 15 April 2019.
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References
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