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Dalquharran Castle

Scotland · 18th century

Founded
1790
Architect
Robert Adam
Heritage status
category A listed building
Location
South Ayrshire
Coordinates
55.28313°, -4.72463°
Links
Wikimedia Commons
Open on the map →Wikipedia ↗
Dalquharran Castle in Scotland
Photo: paul c · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Description

Dalquharran Castle is a category A listed building in South Ayrshire, Scotland, designed by Robert Adam and completed around 1790. The first recorded lord of the property which already included a castle, was Gilbert Kennedy, as stated in a 1474 Charter for the nearby Crossraguel Abbey; the estate was later owned by the Kennedy family for centuries.

The property lies near the village of Dailly, a few miles inland from the Firth of Clyde between Girvan and Turnberry on the western coast of Scotland, about 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Ayr. The estate includes two "castles", the old one abandoned around 1800 and the new one, actually a mansion, which was habitable until the 1960s. The south façade of the new castle overlooks the north bank of the Water of Girvan. One recent report states, "This property [completed in 1790] should not be confused with the ruined Old Dalquharran Castle which stands nearby". The new castle is also now a ruin since the roof was removed to avoid local taxation in 1967.

The estate, including the old castle, was purchased in the late 17th century by Sir Thomas Kennedy of Kirkhill, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and occupied by his son Thomas Kennedy of Dunure. Over the years, the old castle has also been known as Dalqhrin, Dahuharra Castle, Old Place of Dalwharn, Dolquharran. Kennedy of Kirkhill also bought Dunure Castle and its estate. Thomas Kennedy of Dunure was the husband of Robert Adam's sister, and Adam designed a new castle for him as a country mansion, during around 1785 to 1790.

The castle was arranged symmetrically around a central entrance hall, with top-lit central spiral staircase similar to Culzean Castle, which Adam designed for David Kennedy from around 1776. The house has four floors, with bedchambers in the two floors. The interior was decorated in a classical style. Services were located in the basement. A round bastion turret in the south front contains a drawing room on the ground floor, with library above, with views over Girvan Water. A large oval dining room occupies the east wing on the ground floor.

When the castle was completed in 1790, Thomas Kennedy moved out of the old castle which was abandoned and stands in ruins nearby, about 300 metres (980 ft) southeast, closer to the river.

Text adapted from “Dalquharran Castle” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

In the rankings

Dalquharran Castle ranks #5,273 of 9,902 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #194 of the 252 mapped in Scotland. Founded 1790, it is older than 13% of the atlas's dated landmarks, one of 757 atlas entries founded in the 18th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 2,749 times in the last 60 days, more than 79% of the atlas. 6 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Glasgow, 71 km away. See how Scotland compares in the castle statistics.

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