OS1/3/39/41
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TURNBERRY CASTLE (Ruins of) | Turnberry Castle Turnberry Castle Turnberry Castle Turnberry Castle |
Alexander McGaw J Findlay Thomas Oliver David Fulton |
043 | The ruins of an ancient Castle, belonging to the Earls of Carrick & probably erected by them, as their principal stronghold in that district the date of its erection is now unknown It stands on a rocky shore, about 300 yards N.E. [North East] of the angle, turning towards Girvan. The walls on the sea-side are built around a rocky cliff & 4 feet in thicKness. Those on the land side are 9 feet thick, they are nearly level with the ground, except a small portion out the most Northern point, which is 12 feet high Immediately East of this & over an opening in the rock an arch appears to have been constructed the abutments of which are still remaining. This is a passage which opens towards the sea. [Continued] |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 41 -- Sheet 43.12 -- Parish of KirKoswald"The remains of this famous castle - consisting of little more than the foundation -
"are assuredly the oldest remains in the parish of which any account can be given. They stand upon
"a small promontory, running into the sea, in the barony of Turnberry. Abercrummie says,
"the next (to Culzean) upon the coast, are to be seen the old ruines of the ancient Castle of
"Turnberry, upon the north-west poynt of that rockie angle that turns about towards
"Girvan, and is perhaps that place called by Ptoleme, Perigorium, of a Greek origination,
"importing round the corner, and suiting the English designation of Turnberry; and that it
"cannot be Bargany, as some imagine, the very situation of that castle, and recentness of
"it, will abundantly show; and to confirme this our conjecture, a tradition amongst the
"people there, will not a little conduce, namely, that near to this very castle, there was of
"old a toune of the same name, of which there is no vestige at present to be seen, but
"that they perceive some remainders of a causeway; and the reason for this maybe, the
"neighbourhood of the port of greatest resort in all that coast, at which the first possess-
"ors landed from Ireland, and so might have fixed their habitation near to it, though
"now the place be but a tract of narrow sands". "There is some probability in the con-
"jecture of Abercrummie. That many of the strongholds of the Romans existed long after
"their departure is well known, and not a few still exist in various quarters of Britain.
"This however must remain a matter of dubiety. At all events the origin of the Castle
"of Turnberry, cannot now be positively ascertained. It is evident, however, that
"it was the residence of the McDowalls, Earls of Carrick. This may be inferred
"from the grants of the Church of Turnberry, and from the erection of the Abbey
"of Crossraguel, by Duncan Earl of Carrick; and it is certain that in 1271, Martha
"Countess of Carrick lived at Turnberry & was in that year married to Robert Bruce
" Earl."
Transcribers who have contributed to this page.
Chr1smac -Moderator, Jeni
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