OS1/3/25/59

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 59 [Dundonald castle (In Ruin) Continued]

"Near to the Village of Dundonald, is the Castle already mentioned, which gives name to
the earldom in the family of Cochrane. The rising ground on which the Castle stands, with 5 roods
of land adjoining, is all the property in this parish which now pertains to that family. No authentic
record can be produced at what time the Castle was built, or when it was spoiled of its roof, and
rendered desolate. A large pile still remains; the walls are very thick, and built of whinstone, which
is in abundance near it. The corners are of a freestone, superior in quality to any now found in the parish
the Stuart Arms are engrossed in different parts of the building, and the whole has much the form of
those Castles which were raised in Britain during the 12th & 13th Century." Old Stat, Acct. [Statistical Account]

"Antiquities
In this department of inquiry, the Castle of Dundonald claims the first place. The date of the
edifice is unknown, but the probability is from the style of the building and other circumstances, that it is
indebted for its origin to the craftsmen of the twelfth or thirteenth century. As a ruin it is still comparitively
entire and would have been much more so, if it had had only the Goth time to struggle against, but
the hands of man has also been sorely against it for many generations. According to a tradition which of
appearance of the edifice seems to confirm, an entire Storey was removed to build the house of Auchans,
which is itself nearly a ruin; and from time to time, almost every available piece of freestone has been
carried away. Though these systematic depredations are now discontinued the hand of mischief is still
occasionally at work. So that if it be true, as we have heard, on good authority, that the family of Dundonald
hold the adjoining piece of land in grant from the heirs of Eglinton, on condition of keeping the
ruin from further decay, we must sat that the terms of the tenure are not very strictly complied with
The building two entire storeys of which still hang together roofed in by a rude arch of ruble work
is in the form of an oblong square, and entirely without ornament. It is chiefly built of green stone.